Dan Walters: Data’s thin on whether shift to counseling prevented felons from committing later crimes

The Los Angeles Times, California’s largest newspaper, has editorialized against Proposition 36, the Nov. 5 ballot measure that would increase penalties for some crimes.

Propsition 36 would modify Proposition 47, the 2014 measure that reduced punishment for drug possession and other nonviolent offenses. The changes are needed, bill advocates say, to stem an uptick in such crimes.

“Backers of Proposition 36  would have you believe that California’s criminal laws attract thieves and...