California’s prison system has suffered its fair share of crowding issues over the past few decades. For so long, citizens have demanded action, yet criminal justice reform has become a near-possible issue for our legislators to tackle.
However, that’s not to say that our efforts go in vain. Any attempts at working with our existing justice system to create a better one is worth making.
Recently, the San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan’s office announced that it has filed a motion to reduce over 25,000 felony marijuana convictions to misdemeanors, and dismiss over 1,000 misdemeanor marijuana convictions entirely.
Proposition 64 made marijuana possession and sale legal in California, however, our prison system was so cluttered with cases that many convicted of possession were stuck in the criminal justice cycle. It’s good to see actions being taken to alleviate some of the strain on our prisons in order to free up space for those convicted of much graver crimes.
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan explained that her office has “been a leader in the state, and proactive on giving individuals with marijuana convictions the opportunity to move forward with their lives, without a conviction that may negatively impact them by restricting their employment or housing.” She noted that “it’s clear that the law was written to allow this relief, and it’s important that we give full effect to the will of the people.”
Stephan is fighting hard to create change that benefits their constituents and frees up space in the prison system, while also upholding justice. San Diegans can and should applaud Stephan and her office for understanding where California’s priorities should lie.
