In 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, also known as the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, with the goal of reducing the state's prison population and investing the resulting savings into mental health and substance use disorder treatments. The legislation aimed to decrease the number of inmates serving time for nonviolent drug and theft offenses by reducing these crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.
However, according to Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the legislation had unintended consequences. When enforcement of drug laws and rules decreased, California started to see a major increase in addiction and severe mental health problems in people living on the street. The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which was meant to create safer communities, seems to have backfired, contributing to the state's soaring addiction and homelessness numbers.
Many people may not have done the research before voting for Proposition 47, trusting the government to provide safer streets and schools. However, as Sheriff Bianco argues, voters were misled. The legislation has contributed to the rise in fatal overdoses in California, which increased more than 35 percent in the years following the act's passage and skyrocketed during the pandemic.
One issue with the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act is that it did not provide a clear path to recovery for people experiencing addiction. Every drug conviction in court had the option of going to jail or going to drug diversion, where people would receive treatment instead of serving time. While most people chose the diversion program, many refused to enroll in treatment programs, and the courts did not have much leverage to get people experiencing addiction to seek help.
Another unintended consequence of the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act is that it decreased the consequences for theft, making it easier for people to commit crimes without fear of punishment. With fewer thefts considered felonies, many thieves are emboldened and continue to commit crimes, further contributing to the sense of lawlessness on California streets.
The savings from the reduction in the state's prison population, which were intended to be used for mental health and substance use disorder treatments, have not been enough to meet the growing demand for these services. As a result, many people experiencing addiction and mental health issues do not receive the help they need to recover and end up on the streets.
The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, which aimed to reduce the state's prison population and invest in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, seems to have had unintended consequences that have fueled California's soaring addiction and homelessness numbers. The legislation decreased the consequences for theft and drug possession crimes, making it easier for people to commit crimes without fear of punishment. Furthermore, the savings from the reduction in the state's prison population have not been enough to meet the growing demand for mental health and substance use disorder treatments. The legislation has failed to provide a clear path to recovery for people experiencing addiction, leading to a rise in fatal overdoses and severe mental health problems in people living on the streets.
The 300+ organizations in Citygate Network membership seek to move people in desperate situations and destitute conditions (i.e., hungry, homeless, abused, and addicted) from human suffering to human flourishing through the process of gospel-powered life transformation. If you or someone you love is in need of Christ-centered compassion and care, please visit our member locator page today to find a mission near you.
| Find a Mission |