CHOWCHILLA, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The passing of Proposition 36 by California voters last year was welcomed in Fresno County by District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and Sheriff John Zanoni , with Smittcamp saying that it shows “the people in California are tired of this chaos.”
Proposition 36 increased penalties for certain theft and drug crimes and was designed to reverse some of the effects of Proposition 47. While supporters say it targets serial offenders, critics say it could do more harm than good.
Executive Director with the Pollen Initiative Jesse Vasquez says Prop 36 could make things worse. The Pollen Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating media centers inside prisons nationwide so those behind bars can tell their stories.
What is Prop 36? A look into ‘The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act’
Before Vasquez was Executive Director, he says he experienced incarceration at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
“I was formerly incarcerated from the age of 17 to 36,” Vasquez said. “I got sentenced to a couple of life terms for multiple shootings, aggravated assault, attempted murder and some gang-related activity.”…