California Lawmakers Urge Study of Lower Prosecution Thresholds for Retail Theft

California Republican legislators are urging the nonpartisan Little Hoover Commission to analyze retail theft and how Proposition 47, which largely decriminalized drug use and reduces theft under $950, even for serial offenders, to a misdemeanor, impacts retail theft, and recommend policy solutions. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, reported shoplifting increased 61% from 2019 through 2023 in Los Angeles. While the LHC is already holding hearings on retail theft, the Republican letter demands that Prop 47 and what they claim are decreases in reporting of theft due to lack of consequences for criminals be considered in the commission’s analysis.