California Judiciary FAQ: What are some significant changes in law to the criminal justice and judiciary systems?

Proposition 115: Speedy Trial Initiative (1990). Made significant changes to judicial procedures in criminal cases, such as providing the accused with the right to due process of law and requiring felony trials to be set within 60 days of a defendant’s arraignment.
“Three Strikes and You’re Out” (1994). Required longer prison sentences for certain repeat offenders and also restricted individuals who have committed serious or violent felonies from earning credits that reduce time in prison. (LAO Reference: A Primer: Three Strikes - The Impact After More Than a Decade).
Lockyer-Isenberg Trial Court Funding Act (1997). Shifted funding responsibility of the trial courts from the counties to the state.
Proposition 21: Juvenile Crime (2000). Expanded the types of cases for which juveniles can be tried in adult court and increased penalties for gang-related crimes.
Proposition 36: Drug Prevention and Treatment (2000). Provided for offenders who are convicted of specific crimes designated as nonviolent drug possession offenses to be sentenced to probation and drug treatment, instead of prison or jail.
Internet Access to Megan’s Law Database (2004). Made information on the residences of sex offenders available electronically via the Internet.
Proposition 69: DNA Samples (2004). Required law enforcement agencies to collect samples of deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA, from all convicted felons, some nonfelons, and certain arrestees for inclusion in the state’s DNA data bank. (LAO Reference: Analysis of the 2007-08 Budget Bill, page D-26.)
Senate Bill 1128 (Alquist) and Proposition 83: Jessica’s Law (2006). Made several changes to the sentencing of sex offenses, including requiring global positioning system monitoring of felony sex offenders for life and restricting where sex offenders can live.(LAO Reference: Analysis of the 2007-08 Budget Bill, page D-134.
Senate Bill 81: Juvenile Offenders (2007). Specified that nonviolent juvenile offenders will no longer be accepted into state juvenile facilities and instead remain at the local level