Donyell Green left court Friday afternoon with a new sense of freedom.
After six years of living as a felon for a 2008 drug possession conviction, a judge agreed to re-classify Green's felony to a misdemeanor under voter-approved Proposition 47.
"Today is a 'Freedom Friday' for me. I am free now," Green said. "I'm not an ex-felon no more and that's a relief off my back."
Since Prop. 47 passed earlier this month, hundreds of inmates across the Bay Area have been set free. Thousands of others who've already served time could also have their felonies cleared from their records.
In Martinez, defendants have been walking out free every Friday after the measure was approved.
"Some of the people being released quite frankly are dangerous," said Jason Peck a prosecutor who has been fighting many of the releases.
Peck is concerned the community could be at risk.
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"People that have a whole career of identity theft are getting released and possibly going to do it again," Peck said. "Likewise a form of robbery is called grand theft person, which is a very serious violent act to steal something off someone's person and they are under the act allowed to be reduced to misdemeanors."
But defense attorneys said judges are carefully reviewing each case, and insist "Freedom Fridays" are reserved for non-violent offenders.
Meanwhile, Green said he is eager to get back to work and start providing for his two young daughters.
"I just thank everyone who voted for that Proposition 47 because now I'm free to go live life like a normal citizen," he said.
