Criminal sentencing ballot measures

Issues
Measures by topic
Measures by year
Measures by state

As a state ballot measure topic, criminal sentencing includes measures regarding the penalties imposed on individuals convicted of a criminal offense, as well as the establishment of new criminal offenses. The topic is grouped within the criminal justice and law enforcement policy area.

This page provides information on:

• upcoming ballot measures and
• a comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state.

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to criminal sentencing certified for this year and future elections:

2026

1. Arizona Designate Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations and Require State DHS to Address Threats Measure (2026) - On the ballot

2025

1. Louisiana Amendment 3, Legislative Authority to Determine Crimes for Trying Juveniles as Adults Amendment (March 2025)

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to criminal sentencing, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2026

1. Arizona Designate Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations and Require State DHS to Address Threats Measure (2026) - On the ballot

2025

1. Louisiana Amendment 3, Legislative Authority to Determine Crimes for Trying Juveniles as Adults Amendment (March 2025)

2024

1. Arizona Proposition 313, Life Imprisonment for Sex Trafficking of a Child Measure (2024)
2. California Proposition 36, Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative (2024)
3. Colorado Proposition 128, Parole Eligibility Initiative (2024)

2020

1. California Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative (2020)

2016

1. California Proposition 57, Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements (2016)
2. Washington Increased Penalties for Crimes Against Vulnerable Individuals, Initiative 1501 (2016)

2014

1. California Proposition 47, Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014)

2012

1. California Proposition 35, Ban on Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery Initiative (2012)
2. California Proposition 36, Changes to Three Strikes Sentencing Initiative (2012)

2010

1. Oregon Measure 73, Minimum Criminal Sentence Increase Initiative (2010)

2008

1. California Proposition 6, Gang-Related Crimes, Law Enforcement Spending, and Parolee Caseload Initiative (2008)
2. Oregon Measure 57, Prison Sentences for Certain Drug and Property Crimes Measure (2008)

2006

1. Arizona Proposition 301, Methamphetamine Offenses Initiative (2006)
2. California Proposition 83, Jessica's Law Sex Offender Penalties and Restrictions Initiative (2006)

2004

1. California Proposition 66, Changes to Three Strikes Criminal Sentencing Law Initiative (2004)

2000

1. Alaska Measure 5, Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative (2000)
2. California Proposition 18, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Lying in Wait First Degree Murder Measure (March 2000)
3. California Proposition 19, Increased Criminal Punishment for Murder of Police Officer Measure (March 2000)
4. California Proposition 21, Treatment of Juvenile Offenders Initiative (March 2000)
5. California Proposition 36, Probation and Treatment for Drug-Related Offenses Initiative (2000)
6. Massachusetts Question 8, Drug Treatment Trust Fund and Expanded Court-Monitored Treatment Programs Initiative (2000)
7. Oregon Measure 94, Repeal of Certain Mandatory Minimum Sentences Initiative (2000)

1999

1. Louisiana Automatic Pardon, Amendment 8 (October 1999)

1998

1. California Proposition 222, Sentencing for Second Degree Murder of Police Officers Measure (June 1998)
2. Montana Criminal Law Basis, C-33 (1998)
3. Nebraska Amendment 3, Imprisonment for Fraud Debt Measure (May 1998)

1997

1. Pennsylvania Question 2, Changes to Board of Pardons Amendment (1997)

1996

1. California Proposition 194, Employed Prisoners Not Eligible for Unemployment Benefits Upon Release Measure (March 1996)
2. California Proposition 195, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Certain First-Degree Murders Measure (March 1996)
3. California Proposition 196, Death Penalty or Life Imprisonment for Drive-by Shooting Murders Measure (March 1996)
4. California Proposition 211, Laws Governing Retirement Savings Securities Fraud Initiative (1996)
5. North Carolina Recognized Punishments for Crimes Amendment (1996)

1994

1. Georgia Amendment 2, Mandatory Sentences and Restrictions on Pardons and Paroles Amendment (1994)
2. Oklahoma State Question 664, Legislative Mandate for Minimum Prison Sentence for Parole Amendment (August 1994)
3. Oregon Measure 10, Require Two-Thirds Legislative Vote to Reduce Voter-Approved Criminal Sentences Initiative (1994)
4. Wyoming Amendment 1, Legislative Authority to Create Penalty of Life Imprisonment Without Parole Not Subject to Commutation by Governor Amendment (1994)

1990

1. Alaska Measure 2, Marijuana Possession Criminalization Initiative (1990)

1988

1. California Proposition 67, Second-Degree Murder of a Peace Officer Measure (June 1988)
2. Georgia Amendment 7, Additional Court Penalties Measure (1988)
3. Indiana Criminal Appeals Process, Proposition 2 (1988)
4. Oregon Measure 4, Eliminate Parole for Certain Felons Initiative (1988)

1986

1. Oklahoma State Question 593, Parole for Convicts Sentenced to Death or Life Imprisonment Amendment (1986)

1982

1. Missouri Amendment 10, Supreme Court Review of Life Imprisonment Measure (1982)

1978

1. California Proposition 7, Expand Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Murders Initiative (1978)
2. Georgia Amendment 9, Criminal Penalty Assessments Measure (1978)
3. Idaho Mandatory Minimum Sentences, HJR 6 (1978)

1973

1. Rhode Island Proposal 3, Require Grand Jury Indictment for Crimes Punishable by Death or Imprisonment for Life Amendment (1973)

1972

1. California Proposition 19, Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative (1972)

1968

1. Louisiana First Offender Pardon Amendment (1968)

1952

1. South Dakota Amendment B, Board of Pardons Measure (1952)

1950

1. Michigan Proposal 3, Declare Subversion a Crime and Restrict Free Speech Defense Amendment (1950)

1948

1. Michigan Proposal No. 6, Procedures for Foreign Agencies Operating in Michigan Referendum (1948)

1944

1. Virginia Board for the Review of Capital Punishment, Reprieves, and Pardons Amendment (1944)

1936

1. Nevada State Question 1, Suspension of Sentences and Pardons Amendment (1936)

1932

1. Michigan Proposal No. 6, Pardons and New Trials Amendment (1932)

1931

1. Michigan Define Murder in the First Degree and Require Death Penalty by Electrocution Referendum (April 1931)

1930

1. South Dakota Amendment A, Allow for Suspension of Sentence After First Conviction Measure (1930)

1915

1. Maryland General Assembly Power to Suspend Sentences, Amendment 3 (1915)

1914

1. California Proposition 18, Wild Game Sale Referendum (1914)
2. Colorado Probation for Minors and First Offenders, Measure 6 (1914)

1902

1. Michigan Indeterminate Sentences Amendment (1902)

1868

1. Minnesota Abolish Requirement of Grand Jury, Amendment 2 (1868)

Alaska

1. Alaska Measure 2, Marijuana Possession Criminalization Initiative (1990)
2. Alaska Measure 5, Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative (2000)

Arizona

1. Arizona Designate Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations and Require State DHS to Address Threats Measure (2026) - On the ballot
2. Arizona Proposition 301, Methamphetamine Offenses Initiative (2006)
3. Arizona Proposition 313, Life Imprisonment for Sex Trafficking of a Child Measure (2024)

California

1. California Proposition 18, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Lying in Wait First Degree Murder Measure (March 2000)
2. California Proposition 18, Wild Game Sale Referendum (1914)
3. California Proposition 19, Increased Criminal Punishment for Murder of Police Officer Measure (March 2000)
4. California Proposition 19, Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative (1972)
5. California Proposition 194, Employed Prisoners Not Eligible for Unemployment Benefits Upon Release Measure (March 1996)
6. California Proposition 195, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Certain First-Degree Murders Measure (March 1996)
7. California Proposition 196, Death Penalty or Life Imprisonment for Drive-by Shooting Murders Measure (March 1996)
8. California Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative (2020)
9. California Proposition 21, Treatment of Juvenile Offenders Initiative (March 2000)
10. California Proposition 211, Laws Governing Retirement Savings Securities Fraud Initiative (1996)
11. California Proposition 222, Sentencing for Second Degree Murder of Police Officers Measure (June 1998)
12. California Proposition 35, Ban on Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery Initiative (2012)
13. California Proposition 36, Changes to Three Strikes Sentencing Initiative (2012)
14. California Proposition 36, Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative (2024)
15. California Proposition 36, Probation and Treatment for Drug-Related Offenses Initiative (2000)
16. California Proposition 47, Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014)
17. California Proposition 57, Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements (2016)
18. California Proposition 6, Gang-Related Crimes, Law Enforcement Spending, and Parolee Caseload Initiative (2008)
19. California Proposition 66, Changes to Three Strikes Criminal Sentencing Law Initiative (2004)
20. California Proposition 67, Second-Degree Murder of a Peace Officer Measure (June 1988)
21. California Proposition 7, Expand Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Murders Initiative (1978)
22. California Proposition 83, Jessica's Law Sex Offender Penalties and Restrictions Initiative (2006)

Colorado

1. Colorado Probation for Minors and First Offenders, Measure 6 (1914)
2. Colorado Proposition 128, Parole Eligibility Initiative (2024)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 2, Mandatory Sentences and Restrictions on Pardons and Paroles Amendment (1994)
2. Georgia Amendment 7, Additional Court Penalties Measure (1988)
3. Georgia Amendment 9, Criminal Penalty Assessments Measure (1978)

Idaho

1. Idaho Mandatory Minimum Sentences, HJR 6 (1978)

Indiana

1. Indiana Criminal Appeals Process, Proposition 2 (1988)

Louisiana

1. Louisiana Amendment 3, Legislative Authority to Determine Crimes for Trying Juveniles as Adults Amendment (March 2025)
2. Louisiana Automatic Pardon, Amendment 8 (October 1999)
3. Louisiana First Offender Pardon Amendment (1968)

Maryland

1. Maryland General Assembly Power to Suspend Sentences, Amendment 3 (1915)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 8, Drug Treatment Trust Fund and Expanded Court-Monitored Treatment Programs Initiative (2000)

Michigan

1. Michigan Define Murder in the First Degree and Require Death Penalty by Electrocution Referendum (April 1931)
2. Michigan Indeterminate Sentences Amendment (1902)
3. Michigan Proposal 3, Declare Subversion a Crime and Restrict Free Speech Defense Amendment (1950)
4. Michigan Proposal No. 6, Pardons and New Trials Amendment (1932)
5. Michigan Proposal No. 6, Procedures for Foreign Agencies Operating in Michigan Referendum (1948)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Abolish Requirement of Grand Jury, Amendment 2 (1868)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 10, Supreme Court Review of Life Imprisonment Measure (1982)

Montana

1. Montana Criminal Law Basis, C-33 (1998)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Amendment 3, Imprisonment for Fraud Debt Measure (May 1998)

Nevada

1. Nevada State Question 1, Suspension of Sentences and Pardons Amendment (1936)

North Carolina

1. North Carolina Recognized Punishments for Crimes Amendment (1996)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 593, Parole for Convicts Sentenced to Death or Life Imprisonment Amendment (1986)
2. Oklahoma State Question 664, Legislative Mandate for Minimum Prison Sentence for Parole Amendment (August 1994)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 10, Require Two-Thirds Legislative Vote to Reduce Voter-Approved Criminal Sentences Initiative (1994)
2. Oregon Measure 4, Eliminate Parole for Certain Felons Initiative (1988)
3. Oregon Measure 57, Prison Sentences for Certain Drug and Property Crimes Measure (2008)
4. Oregon Measure 73, Minimum Criminal Sentence Increase Initiative (2010)
5. Oregon Measure 94, Repeal of Certain Mandatory Minimum Sentences Initiative (2000)

Pennsylvania

1. Pennsylvania Question 2, Changes to Board of Pardons Amendment (1997)

Rhode Island

1. Rhode Island Proposal 3, Require Grand Jury Indictment for Crimes Punishable by Death or Imprisonment for Life Amendment (1973)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Amendment A, Allow for Suspension of Sentence After First Conviction Measure (1930)
2. South Dakota Amendment B, Board of Pardons Measure (1952)

Virginia

1. Virginia Board for the Review of Capital Punishment, Reprieves, and Pardons Amendment (1944)

Washington

1. Washington Increased Penalties for Crimes Against Vulnerable Individuals, Initiative 1501 (2016)

Wyoming

1. Wyoming Amendment 1, Legislative Authority to Create Penalty of Life Imprisonment Without Parole Not Subject to Commutation by Governor Amendment (1994)

See also

• List of ballot measures by topic