Mixed Ballot Measure Results Constrain Criminal Legal Reform Nationwide

[Washington, D.C] Despite critical setbacks for criminal legal reform measures in key ballot initiatives, The Sentencing Project remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a fair and inclusive democracy for all.

Voters across the country made pivotal decisions on a range of criminal-legal issues:

• In Arizona, voters expanded their criminal codes to include penalties for border crossing, using false documents for social services, and selling fentanyl leading to death; they also approved life without parole for specific controlled substance offenses.
• In California, voters voted no on an anti-slavery in prison measure, Nevadans voted yes on a similar measure in their state. Prop 36, a measure reclassifying certain misdemeanors as felonies was passed in California.
• Voters in Colorado said yes to stiffened mandatory time-served requirements and voted yes to removing the right to bail for people charged with first-degree murder.
• In Nevada, voters approved a measure to remove references to involuntary servitude in their state constitution.
• Medical marijuana passed in Nebraska, while legalized recreational marijuana failed in Florida, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
• Voters in Massachusetts voted no to legalizing natural psychedelics.

Reflecting on these outcomes, Nicole D. Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy at The Sentencing Project noted: “The movement for justice is far from over. In states where criminal legal reforms were on the ballot, many voters unfortunately supported punitive measures, which research has shown to be ineffective. Although voter-approved ballot measures in Nevada and Nebraska are a step in the right direction, the overwhelming support of punitive policies to lengthen prison terms demonstrates an urgent need to educate the public on the damages of mass incarceration and its inefficacy in reducing crime or achieving true community safety.”