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Effects of a voter initiative on disparities in punishment severity for drug offenses across California counties

Author

Listed:
  • Mooney, Alyssa C.
  • Neilands, Torsten B.
  • Giannella, Eric
  • Morris, Meghan D.
  • Tulsky, Jacqueline
  • Glymour, M. Maria

Abstract

The jurisdiction where an offense is prosecuted significantly affects the severity of punishment for drug possession, creating geographic disparities in exposure to a social determinant of health. In California, felony conviction rates after drug possession arrests have historically varied enormously between counties. California Proposition 47 (Prop-47), passed in 2014, reduced drug possession offenses previously classified as felonies or wobblers (offenses for which prosecutors have discretion to file felony or misdemeanor charges) to misdemeanors. This study examines whether geographic variation in felony convictions after drug possession arrests was reduced, and whether effects were offset by changes in felony convictions for other offenses not addressed by Prop-47.

Suggested Citation

  • Mooney, Alyssa C. & Neilands, Torsten B. & Giannella, Eric & Morris, Meghan D. & Tulsky, Jacqueline & Glymour, M. Maria, 2019. "Effects of a voter initiative on disparities in punishment severity for drug offenses across California counties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 9-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:230:y:2019:i:c:p:9-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.03.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amanda Geller & Irwin Garfinkel & Carey E. Cooper & Ronald B. Mincy, 2009. "Parental Incarceration and Child Well‐Being: Implications for Urban Families," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 90(5), pages 1186-1202, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Crodelle, Jennifer & Vallejo, Celeste & Schmidtchen, Markus & Topaz, Chad M. & D'Orsogna, Maria R., 2020. "Impacts of California Proposition 47 on Crime in Santa Monica, CA," SocArXiv mc9wq, Center for Open Science.

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