There is new legislation in the pipeline to reform California's mandatory minimum laws.
State Senator Scott Weiner recently unveiled SB 73 - if signed into law, it will give judges more flexibility in sentencing drug related offenses. Jeannette Zanipatin, director of the Drug Policy Alliance, said the bill will help to make a dent in reducing mass incarceration. Zanipatin added that sentencing some individuals to probation rather than prison can free up billions of dollars to spend on education, health care, and other public services.