A state that has made its name being one of the toughest on the planet (e.g., it has the largest death row population in the US and passed the toughest three-strikes law in the US) is now inhabited by people who "would rather ease penalties than pay more for prisons."
It's not the unjust nature of their criminal justice apparatus that bothers them.
Not the racial disparities and racial biases.
Not the inefficacy of the punishments.
Not that they are loathed around the world for how they've have more people on death row than any other state.
Not that they have sentenced relatively minor offenders to life in prison--FOREVER--with no chance of parole (including a man who stole a set of golf clubs and a man who stole some videotapes from KMart as Christmas gifts for his kids).
It's just that they cannot afford it.
The funny thing is they never could.
— More than 60% of respondents, including majorities among Democrats, Republicans and those who declined to state a party preference, said they would support reducing life sentences for third strike offenders convicted of property crimes such as burglary, auto theft and
— Nearly 70% said they would sanction the early release of some low-level offenders whose crimes did not involve violence.
— About 80% said they approve of keeping low-level, nonviolent offenders in county custody — including jails, home detention or parole — instead of sending them to state prisons. The same percentage favors paroling inmates who are paralyzed, in comas or so debilitated by advanced disease that they no longer pose a threat to public safety.
The pollsters noted that people don't generally favor the release of convicted criminals. But "when it comes to prisons," said Linda DiVall of American Viewpoint, "voters are looking for solutions that don't raise taxes or take money from other priorities like education."
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