California Propositions

California Proposition 25 entailed the replacement of cash bail with a risk assessments referendum. A yes vote would have replaced the cash bail with risk assessments for detailed suspects awaiting trials, while a no vote would have kept the current use of bails for detained suspects awaiting trials. The risk assessment involves a determination of public safety and flight risk. This would have also led to the limitation on the detention of a person in jail before trial. The supporter argued that the new system is safer and provides equity at a relatively lower price than the current money system. Some of the highlighted issues to be changed include; money bail is unsafe, money bail is costly, the innocent people suffer more through the current system. Official argument against the Proposition state that Prop. 25 eliminates the right to bail for every Californian, civil rights groups warn: prop. 25 is more biased against minorities and the poor, the community becomes less safe and overburdens already overcrowded courts.

One of the organizations supporting Proposition 25 is the Action Now Initiative, a philanthropy dedicated to tackling some of the most pressing problems in the United States. On the other hand, California Small Business Association and American Bail Coalition were against the new system. The review of political parties, government entities, and organizations supporting or opposing the proposition indicate a challenge in direct democracy. Although proposition voting allows residents of California to vote, their decision is influenced by these entities. In most cases, people eventually find themselves aligning to a certain ideology supported by their parties. Therefore, a person can be influenced to vote based on political ideology held by a party or the lobby influence rather than on individual view and analysis of the issue.