5,596,077 / 47.3% Yes votes ...... 6,230,122 / 52.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

• Amends "Three Strikes" law to require increased sentences only when current conviction is for specified violent and/or serious felony.
• Redefines violent and serious felonies. Only prior convictions for specified violent and/or serious felonies, brought and tried separately, would qualify for second and third "strike" sentence increases.
• Allows conditional re-sentencing of persons with sentences increased under "Three Strikes" law if previous sentencing offenses, resulting in the currently charged felony/felonies, would no longer qualify as violent and/or serious felonies.
• Increases punishment for specified sex crimes against children.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

The current "Three Strikes" sentencing law would be amended to require that a second and third strike offense be a serious or violent felony, instead of any felony, in order for the longer sentences required under Three Strikes to apply. The state would be required to resentence "third strikers" whose third strike was nonviolent and nonserious. In addition, prison sentences for specified sex offenses against children would be lengthened.

A NO vote of this measure means:

Current sentencing law would remain in effect, requiring offenders with one or more prior convictions for serious or violent felonies to receive longer sentences for the conviction of any new felony (not just a serious or violent felony). In addition, prison sentences for certain sex offenses against children would remain unchanged.

• Official WWW Site
• Full Text
• Impartial Analysis from the Legislative Analyst

Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition 66:

PROPOSITION 66 RESTORES THREE STRIKES TO ITS ORIGINAL INTENT--ensuring criminals currently serving time for violent offenses are kept in prison, SAVING TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS currently wasted imprisoning shoplifters and other nonviolent, petty offenders for life. PROPOSITION 66 PROTECTS CHILDREN WITH TOUGHER 1-STRIKE SENTENCES FOR CHILD MOLESTERS. YES ON PROPOSITION 66.

Full Text of Argument In Favor

Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition 66:

Proposition 66 is opposed by Governor Schwarzenegger, the Attorney General, all 58 District Attorneys, the state's leading law enforcement, taxpayer, and child protection groups. Costs millions and threatens public safety by creating a legal loophole that could release an estimated 26,000 convicted felons-- including rapists, child molesters, and murderers. http://www.Keep3Strikes.org

Full Text of Argument Against

Contact FOR Proposition 66:

Jim Benson
Citizens Against Violent Crime
1625 E. 17th Street, #105
Santa Ana, CA 92705
1-866-3STRIKES
cavcjim@sbcglobal.net
http://www.voteyeson66.org

Contact AGAINST Proposition 66:

Californians United for Public Safety
campaign3@Keep3Strikes.org
http://www.noProp66.org

Secretary of State

• Live Election Returns - also available by county; returns also posted to this Smart Voter page
• Voter Information Guide for Proposition 66

• Cal-Access - from the Secretary of State

• The Three Strikes and You're Out Law - a report written in Feb 1995 after the passage of Proposition 184 in November 1994.
• Detailed analysis of Prop 66

Easy Voter Guide

• Analysis of Proposition 66
• Easy Voter Guide - Download a Guide (PDF) in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese

• Pros & Cons of Proposition 66 - or print all propositions - in PDF
• In Depth Analysis of Proposition 66 - for those who want more

• Institute of Governmental Studies Library - UC Berkeley - includes an analysis of each proposition and a list of organizations and their recommendations

• Criteria for Evaluating Ballot Propositions

League of Women Voters

• Debate on Proposition 66 - LWV South San Mateo County at Caņada College, 9/29/04 (RealPlayer, 47min)

• Peninsula TV, Channel 30 Wednesday, October 6th - 9 AM Friday, October 8th - 7 PM Saturday, October 23rd - 10 PM Saturday, October 30th - 6 PM Monday, November 1st - 8 PM

• Come to a meeting in your community where League experts discuss all state ballot propositions giving a nonpartisan analysis. Consult your Smart Voter county page for dates, times and locations.

KQED-FM: Forum Talk Show

• Proposition 66 - with host Michael Krasny and guests 10/27/04. (Opens in new window)

• About Proposition 66 - (opens in new window)

• Voter Minute - a video guide (with transcript) to help you decide (Windows Media Player; opens in new window)

• On Proposition 66

FOR Prop 66

• Citizens Against Violent Crime

• Californians United for Public Safety