logo
Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Does California's Proposition 47 state that theft of property valued under $950 will not be prosecuted?

By Christiana Dillard
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
NO

Proposition 47, passed in 2014 and on California's books for more than six years, says that a theft under the proposition's definition of shoplifting would be considered a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

Contrary to a social media post -- which includes a clip of shoplifters caught on video -- the proposition does not say police would not investigate such crimes or that there would be no prosecutions.

Proposition 47, also known as The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, created a new misdemeanor offense called "shoplifting," punishable by up to 6 months in county jail.

It defines that offense as "entering a commercial establishment with intent to commit larceny while that establishment is open during regular business hours," with the value of the property stolen not exceeding $950.

Other laws -- not Proposition 47 -- cover property thefts from individuals.

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Ballotpedia California Proposition 47, Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014)
California Courts Proposition 47: The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.