TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Nov 11, 2020

In an election that saw record turn out, voters also made their voices heard on key ballot measures across the country to change the criminal justice system, Law 360 reports. Proposals adopted focused on different aspects of reform, including increased oversight of police departments, reassigning funds meant for police to other community resources, restoring voting rights for felons on parole, a crime victims’ bill of rights, decriminalization of personal possession of illegal drugs, and legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana. In a related article, Law 360 looks at a number of “progressive newcomers” elected to top prosecutor posts in cities around the country. The election of these reformers demonstrates a “huge cultural divide ... on issues relating to law enforcement and criminal justice,” according to University of Southern California government professor Dan Schnur.