|
California's Prop 36 Saves Lives,
Taxpayer Money
In its first
four years, Prop 36 diverted over
140,000 Californians from incarceration
into treatment. Half were in treatment
for the first time. 60,000 Californians
will complete substance abuse treatment
in the program's first five years,
while tens of thousands more will
spend substantial amounts of time
in treatment and make tangible progress
toward recovery.
Treatment
access has expanded under Prop 36,
with more than 700 new treatment
programs licensed after the initiative
took effect. Existing programs grew
to serve tens of thousands more
clients each year.
Meanwhile, the report found that
California prisons saw a 32 percent
drop in the number of people incarcerated
for drug possession after Prop 36
was approved, while drug-related
incarceration had risen steadily
in the 12 years prior to Prop 36.
Thanks largely to Prop 36, a women's
prison was closed, and a new men's
prison was rendered unnecessary.
Dave Fratello, a co-author of Prop
36, said, "Prop 36 is the most
significant sentencing reform since
the repeal of alcohol Prohibition.
The results show how much good we
can do by treating addiction as
a public health issue, not a criminal
justice issue."
Despite its track record of success,
Prop 36 faces funding obstacles.
Governor Schwarzenegger has called
for the program's funding to be
maintained at 1999 levels, which
amounts to a cut because of inflation
and the expansion of treatment services.
Nikos Leverenz, director of the
Drug Policy Alliance's capital office
in Sacramento, said, "We now
have data to show the real impact
of Prop 36, as well as the real
needs going forward. To keep faith
with the voters, legislators must
find the money to protect and expand
Prop 36. Every new dollar we put
in saves lives and money in the
long run."
DPA is working
in the California legislature as
well as in California communities
to spread the word about the successes
of Prop 36 and boost its funding
so it can continue to be effective.
Read the executive
summary and the complete
report.
|
