The success of the Florida ballot initiative to restore many felons’ voting rights may have gotten the most attention, but criminal justice reform advocates won a string of other victories on ballot initiatives last night.
- Deep-red Louisiana voted “yes” on an amendment to end a Jim Crow law that allowed non-unanimous juries in felony trials.
- Voters in Washington state passed an initiative that could make it easier to prosecute police for negligent shootings.
- In Oregon, voters rejected an effort to repeal the state’s sanctuary law, which limits the extent to which local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration officers.
- And Coloradans voted to remove language in the state constitution that allows prison labor without pay.
As I noted last night, though, it was also a good night for another set of criminal-justice ballot initiatives that are controversial in some corners. “Marsy’s Law” snagged victories in all six states where it was on the ballot. Referred to as a “crime victims’ bill of rights,” the law gives crime victims more control of their participation in trial proceedings -- but it’s also been criticized by some who say it could undermine defendants’ rights.