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Professor examines unintended consequences of law reducing prison overcrowding

Stephen Bell, Ph.D., is a criminal justice professor at Mount Marty University.
Stephen Bell, Ph.D., is a criminal justice professor at Mount Marty University.

This interview originally aired on In the Moment on SDPB Radio.

When California passed Proposition 47, Stephen Bell, Ph.D., took notice. The Mount Marty University professor set out to study its effects on police officers.

His paper, titled "Do Police Still Care," looked at how reclassified felonies led police officers to feel less motivation in pursuing certain types of crimes.

Dr. Bell joined In the Moment to discuss what's surprising about his findings.

Cara Hetland is the Director of Radio and Journalism Content for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
Ellen Koester is a producer of In the Moment, SDPB's daily news and culture broadcast.