Lake County Democrats and the California Democratic Party recommend a NO Vote on Proposition 9 the Criminal Justice System, Victims Rights, Parole Constitutional Amendment and Statue. We all want to insure that victims of crime, particularly violent crimes, have rights and input into the parole system prior to the release of convicted felons. These rights are protected and have been a part of the California Penal Code since 1982. In fact many of the provisions of Prop 9 have been law for years.

But buried inside this poorly written proposition are provisions that will cost the state and counties large sums of tax money. Money we don't have. Provisions like mandating unnecessary additional bail hearings for nonviolent crimes. Provisions that increase the standard parole denial period to 15 years up form its current maximum of five years. Provisions that prohibit the early release of prisoners to comply with court-ordered reductions in jail and prison populations. This alone could cost the state untold millions of dollars as we are forced to build new jails and prisons.

Proposition 9 also restricts the Parole Board's flexibility to use nonprison responses when paroles make technical violations of parole when no new crime has been committed.

Worst of all, Proposition 9, as poorly written and unnecessary as some of its provisions may be, can only be changed by a three-fourths vote of both houses of the state Legislature. Normally state statute requires a simple majority vote in both houses. That means if Proposition 9 were to pass it would be virtually impossible to change any part of the law as the needs of the states prison and parole system change in the coming years.

Don't be fooled by law and order get tough shouting, Proposition 9 is bad law and deserves a no vote on Nov. 4.

Becky Curry lives in Kelseyville.

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