In 2016, California voters passed Proposition 57 which stated that non-violent offenders could be considered for early release from prison with the idea of helping relieve the over crowding of California prisons and assist rehabilitated prisoners to leave incarceration and begin a new life. The challenge was that no one defined what a non violent offense was . It turns out that there are only a few crimes in the California Penal Code that are considered violent. Sex with a minor, sex with a dead person, sex trafficking of a minor or assault on a law enforcement officer were not considered violent.
Proposition 20 is designed to improve on that situation. While not a perfect solution it does redefine 51 crimes under the California Penal Code as being considered Violent and providing Judges the opportunity to deny early parole. Sex Trafficking of a minor is one of those crimes.
This weeks show we will discuss the background behind California Proposition 57 and why Prop