Opponents Of Governor's Sentencing Changes Seek Debates

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Opponents of Gov. Jerry Brown's criminal justice ballot initiative are calling for a series of media-sponsored public debates before the November election.

Proposition 57 would give corrections officials more discretion to determine when criminals are released and take away prosecutors' power to decide when juveniles are tried as adults.

District attorneys and crime victims' groups say the Democratic governor is misleading voters when he says the measure would allow earlier parole consideration only for nonviolent inmates.

They said Friday that Brown should personally debate them at least three times.

Dan Newman, a spokesman for Brown and the initiative campaign, couldn't say if Brown will agree to debates. He says opponents are "peddling debunked myths" about a measure that would keep California's prison population below the level required by federal judges.