[2] Major provisions of the proposition, as summarized by Attorney General of California are: The proposition received considerable controversy and was subject to vigorous protests by youth and human rights groups.

Judges also expressed concern that the law eliminated checks and balances inherent to juvenile fitness hearings, as it effectively placed the power to try juvenile offenders squarely in the hands of a district attorney.

Opponents included the Californians for Justice, the Critical Resistance Youth Force Coalition, and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

Prop 21 received the support of 62.1% (4,491,166) of the voters while 37.9% (2,742,148) voted against the proposition.

[4] Only the comparatively liberal counties of the San Francisco Bay Area voted by majority against the measure.