Did you know that under Proposition 47, a law passed in 2014, that all convicted felons who plead guilty to certain low grade felonies like fraud (less than $950), theft (less than $950 excluding Penal Code section 666) or drug possession may be able to able to reduce their cases to a misdemeanor? If the applicant registers as a sex offender under penal code section 290(c) or the applicant has a serious offense charged on Penal Code Section 667(e)(2)(C)(iv), no matter how long ago, he or she cannot reap the benefits of Prop. 47 reduction to a misdemeanor. Charges such as possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, cocaine and others can be reduced as well as petty theft with prior cases. In the case of petty theft with a prior, if your prior theft charge is excluded under Penal Code Section 667(e)(2)(C)(iv), then you cannot reduce the charge. But the vast majority of cases would be reduced. Penal Code Section 667(e)(2)(C)(iv) specifies any serious or violent felony offenses punishable by life in prison or by death. If you plead to or were found guilty of any of these charges, odds are you would still be in prison.
