With the passage of Prop 47 in California on Tuesday, thousands of prisoners and those awaiting trial may find themselves free in the very near future. With many felonies turning to misdemeanors overnight, police, court, and prison officials are scrambling to accommodate the new changes and prepare to revisit numerous cases that require revised sentencing.

The greatest effect will be on drug charges, with California becoming the first state in the nation to downgrade such offenses. One worry within the system is that the former practice of offering reduced sentencing in exchange for completion of drug rehabilitation charges is now not an option, and many are worried that offenders will not get the treatment they need.

For more information on the Prop 47 transition, read on at latimes.com