California's criminal justice system has certainly been transformed over the last several years, shortening sentences and diverting offenders with lighter charges.
However, crime seems to be increasing in California, sparking debate about the causes of such a change in the prison system.
An analysis by the Marshall Project and the Los Angeles Times found that California’s crime rates spiked in both 2012 and 2015, which were the years immediately following two major statewide measures, Prop 47 and 57, aimed at decreasing the number of people in prison who were convicted of low-level drug and property crimes.
Property crimes and thefts from motor vehicles saw the biggest increase.
Overall, California saw a 12% increase in violent crime from 2014 to 2017.
While California is experiencing a rise in property crimes since the bills passed, the rest of the nation experienced a 10% drop in property crimes over the same time period.
Places in California with high amounts of tourism like San Francisco and Los Angeles are experiencing the most car break-ins where thieves target tourists who leave valuables in their car.
Take a look at the complicating numbers and read more about the study at the LA Times.
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