# 2008 California Proposition 5

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California Proposition 5, or the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act (or NORA) was an initiated state statute that appeared as a ballot measure on the November 2008 ballot in California. It was disapproved by voters on November 4 of that year.

## Provisions of the initiative

Proposition 5:
* Requires California to expand and increase funding and oversight for individualized treatment and rehabilitation programs for nonviolent drug offenders and parolees.
* Reduces criminal consequences of nonviolent drug offenses by mandating three-tiered probation with treatment and by providing for case dismissal and/or sealing of records after probation.
* Limits the courts' authority to incarcerate offenders who violate probation or parole.
* Shortens parole for most drug offenses, including sales, and for nonviolent property crimes.
* Creates numerous divisions, boards, commissions, and reporting requirements regarding drug treatment and rehabilitation.
* Changes certain marijuana misdemeanors to infractions.

### Fiscal impact analysis

According to the state of California, the initiative, if it passes, would lead to:
* Increased state costs that could exceed $1 billion annually primarily for expanding drug treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders in state prisons, on parole, and in the community.
* Savings to the state that could exceed $1 billion annually due primarily to reduced prison and parole operating costs.
* Net savings on a one-time basis on capital outlay costs for prison facilities that could exceed $2.5 billion.
* Unknown net fiscal effect on expenditures for county operations and capital outlay.

## Supporters

The official proponent of the measure is Daniel Abrahamson.

### Argument in favor of Prop 5

Notable arguments that have been made in favor of Prop 5 include:
* Prop 5 would reduce pressure on overcrowded and expensive prisons.
* Prop. 5 creates treatment options for young people with drug problems that do not exist under current law
* Voter-approved Proposition 36 provided treatment, not jail, for nonviolent drug users.
* One-third have completed treatment and became productive, tax-paying citizens.
* Since 2000, Prop. 36 has graduated 84,000 people and saved almost $2 billion."

### Donors to the Prop 5 campaign

As of September 6, 2008, the five largest donors to the "Yes on 5" campaign are:
* George Soros, $1,400,000;
* Jacob Goldfield, $1,400,000.
* Bob Wilson, $700,000;
* John Sperling, $500,000;
* The Drug Policy Alliance Network, $400,000.

### Path to ballot

The petition drive conducted to qualify the measure for the fall ballot was conducted by Progressive Campaigns, Inc. at a cost of about $1.762 million.

## Opposition

People Against the Proposition 5 Deception is the official committee against the proposition.
Other opponents include:
* Actor Martin Sheen
* Rational Recovery founder Jack Trimpey

### Arguments against Prop 5

Notable arguments that have been made against Prop 5 include:
* Proposition 5 has been called the "Drug Dealers’ Bill of Rights" because it shortens parole for methamphetamine dealers and other drug felons from 3 years to 6 months.
* This measure may provide a 'get-out-of-jail-free' card to many of those accused of other crimes by claiming drugs made them do it, letting them effectively escape criminal prosecution."
* Proposition 5 establishes two new bureaucracies with virtually no accountability, and which will cost hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars.
* This is a long law that changes many statutes that most voters will not even read in sufficient detail
* Addicted defendants will be permitted five violations of probation or treatment failures based on drug use, and judges will be unable to meaningfully intervene until the sixth violation.

### Donors to no on 5 Campaign

As of October 16, 2008, the ten largest donors for 'No on 5' are:
* California Correctional Peace Officers Association, $1,000,000
* Margaret Whitman, $250,000
* A Jerrold Perenchio, $250,000
* Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, $175,000
* California Republican Party, $238,000
* Save Our Society From Drugs, $115,000
* Los Angeles Police Protective League, $101,800
* California Beer & Beverage Distributors, $100,000
* California Narcotics Officers Association, $60,000
* Peace Officers Research Association of California, $56,000

### Lawsuit to remove from ballot

Opponents of Proposition 5, including thirty-two district attorneys and former California governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis, petitioned the California Supreme Court to issue a preemptory writ of mandate to remove Proposition 5 from the November ballot. The lawsuit alleges that Proposition 5 attempts to alter the constitution via statute, which is unconstitutional.
The California Supreme Court declined to issue the preemptory writ. Generally, initiatives' constitutionality are not reviewed until after a vote has passed and the initiative becomes law.

## Newspaper endorsements

* The Huffington Post

### Editorial boards opposed

* The Los Angeles Times
* The Pasadena Star News

## Results

Proposition 5 :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| No | 7,566,783 | 59.48 |
| Yes | 5,155,206 | 40.52 |
| Valid votes | 12,721,989 | 92.57 |
| Invalid or blank votes | 1,021,188 | 7.43 |
| Total votes | 13,743,177 | 100.00 |