The Effect of Downgrading Felonies

A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California finds that realignment and Prop 47 have not, so far, resulted in an increase in crime in California. Realignment is the big shift of inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes from state prisons to county jails. Prop 47, passed last year, changes certain drug crimes and nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors. The measure is retroactive. On Sunday, a fair was organized at Exposition Park to help people with prior felonies reduce their criminal records, and more than 4,000 people turned up. Some lined up as early as four in the morning. We hear from people who were there.