Prop. 36 funding cut means drug defendants walk
By Josh Richman
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 3:00 pm in state budget.
More from the penny-wise and pound-foolish desk, which is seeing a lot of action as Sacramento grapples with our $24 billion state budget deficit: The Budget Conference Committee yesterday approved Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to eliminate funding for California’s treatment-not-jail program for simple drug possession offenders.
Enacted by 61 percent of voters in November 2000 as Proposition 36, the law says no one can be incarcerated for a simple drug possession offense unless they have first been given a chance at state licensed/certified treatment. Cutting the funding — about $110 million for the current 2008-09 fiscal year — means no such treatment, but the law still doesn’t allow these users to be jailed, so tens of thousands of them will just walk.
“By eliminating funding for Prop 36, the Legislature ensures that fewer people will be sent to jail or prison for a drug possession offense,” said Drug Policy Alliance legal affairs director Daniel Abrahamson, the law’s co-author. “We applaud them for recognizing that scarce resources shouldn’t be spent to incarcerate low-level drug offenders. But treatment through Prop 36 works. Wiping out these services will wreak major human damage, prove very costly in the long run, and further weaken California’s health. This action threatens to leave first- and second-time drug possession offenders on the streets, unsupervised and without access to treatment to which they are legally entitled.”
The Drug Policy Alliance notes that Proposition 36 since 2000 has provided treatment to 36,000 people a year, sharply reduced the number of drug offenders in prison, and reduced state costs by $2 billion. More than 280,000 people have entered community-based treatment under the law, half of whom had never received treatment before. A UCLA study says every $1 invested in Proposition 36 treatment saves the state between $2.50 and $4.00.
The DPA notes California received $225 million from the federal government through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus effort.
“The Legislature and the Governor have agreed to eradicate the only public safety program with independent evaluation that shows success in reducing recidivism and addiction. It will take years to rebuild the treatment programs Prop 36 made possible,” Abrahamson said. “We urge the Legislature to apply federal stimulus dollars to this crucial program.”
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June 17th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Releasing these dudes should make it easier for teens to buy drugs.
June 17th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
The article doesn’t mention the 5,000 plus jobs that will also be lost across the state from drug treatment providers/couselors up through state adminstration.
Nor did it mention that Prop 36 expanded treatment capacity in the state of CA by 60 plus percent… this loss is a shame – especially in an economic downslope where more and more people are turning to petty crimes, drug and alcohol to cope with financial and other loses.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
As usual, penny wise and pound foolish! No wonder we’re in trouble.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
California’s drug treatment program has won high praise from the drug-counseling workforce. The drug-users aren’t as enthusiastic.
June 26th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Schwarzenegger needs to go. He is out of touch with reality; because my husband went through prop 36 treatment, we have BOTH been clean for almost six years now.
Can someone explain to this guy that “A stitch in time saves nine?”
Can someone explain to RR that the drug users might enter prop 36 just trying to stay out of jail, but they leave prop 36 with a whole new life, with hope, and ultimately, that saves the State of California money? No more drugs, fewer crimes, people become responsible citizens…
Trust me, we become QUITE enthusuastic.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I am one of the people this cut effects(it really effect all Californians btw). I am currently enrolled in the prop 36 program. As a direct result of these cuts my treatment was ended early as of today. I was supposed to still have 2 more months of classes and counseling. While the program certainly does not work for everyone enrolled. It does work for many(myself included). I dont plan to use drugs again but this program gave me a place to learn some ways to prevent that from happening. I fear many will now not get the chance I did. Ultimately many will end up doing time in jail (at a much higher cost), and will continue the same behavior after they are released. Offending again and costing the tax payers even more.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I am saddened by the loss of this program. I has help hundreds of people who other wise would have no hope at a second chance in life. The Governor should reconsider this decision as the consequences will be devastating for everyone!
July 1st, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I am sadned at the loss of prop 36! I am attending a facility that was taking prop 36 clients and in this short time Ihave seen several people change for the better and become selfreliant.I have seen someone learn to read and support his family,I have seen someone who only has a few more years to live want to learn how to live her last years sober,I have seen a career criminal change so much that they are enrolling into college to help young juvenile offenders not take yhe path he did.I personally think these are success stories and all this posative energy can triger chain reactions. I voted for you Arnold,I hope you respect my vote and the others you received and do not deny Calfornians,who have supported you and welecomed you into our state.Please reconsider your decision on prop 36!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Angela R.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 am
I am a Prop 36 counselor and work with the people being negatively effected by this decision on a daily basis. I go to work everyday doing what I can, ultimately, the rest is up to the client. Prop has helped change lives and addicts certainly won’t get the help they need in jail. It saddens me that we have a government that believes treatment is expendable.
Prop is an amazing program and has the potential to be so much more. Politicians look at the completion rate of 35% as unsuccessful rather than looking at it as 35% is equivalent to over 80,000 people. Prop has been running on the bare minimum amount of funding and with that–35% is an AMAZING number! That is 35% of addicts in the system have at least begun to obtain and utilize tools to live a safer and healthier life… a life that now has hope.
I ask the politicians to stop and really think about what you’re doing… It costs anywhere from $25k-$35k to lock someone up for a year.. it costs about $4k (on average) to provide someone with treatment–you do the math! And with treatment, they have a better chance of staying OUT of the system… Are people really still wondering why we’re in a financial crisis when the politicians can’t do basic math?
This is a very sad time for Californians, people struggling with addiction and for all those involved in the drug treatment field. Let’s cut treatment for those that desperately need it, but hey, we can still bank on building that train that can get us to and from so-cal to nor-cal in an hour… good thinking.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Sorry, gang. The budget crisis requires all of us to make sacrifices, including addicts and their counselors.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:12 am
If it wasn’t for prop 36, i would still be selling dope and shooting up every day. I have turned my life around, finished my program(luckily was done the week funding was cut)and have focused on a new career. I will always be an addict and love drugs(we all do) but I love my life more. Too bad the idiots in Sacramento are so useless and oblivious to something that is so CRUCIAL to our society. You should be ashamed of yourself Arnold. I know a lot of us are.
July 19th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
You fail to mention that out of every 4 people that go with prop 36 only 1 makes it. the other 3 do not. It is a program set up for “FAILURE”. More tax dollars wasted.
July 27th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Hence the 35% completion rate I mentioned. In no way whatsoever is Prop set up to fail. Prop works on the BARE MINIMUM of treatment funding and for that–35% is an amazing number. Over 90,000 have completed and 75% of that are STILL clean and sober two years later. Tell me how it’s set up to fail? Until you understand the complexities of addiction and the treatment involved, can you really sit there in judgment?
July 27th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Hey, I’m not an Arnold fan, but why should the state have to pay for these abusers (and repeat abusers)? I say let them pay for it themselves as a fine and an unpleasant reminder that they broke the fricken law! Why don’t more people see the logic in this?
July 28th, 2009 at 11:06 am
it is already a co-pay program and they are going to make it MORE of a co-pay program. With an 11.5% unemployment rate it is difficult for anyone to obtain employment let alone someone with felonies and drug possession on their record. My clients are all for paying for their program, however, many are unable to find a job! Which they show proof of on a WEEKLY basis. All I’m saying is that it’s going to cost the taxpayers MORE money when most of them get incarcerated due to the lack of treatment facilities available, a wait list, and inability to pay for more fees… $4000 for treatment vs. anywhere up to $32000 for jail… hmmm.. I know I’m not a mathematician but you do the math.
October 27th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I believe that all people deserve a second chance. The thought that all kids are in truoble because of the drug dealers being let loose in an understatement and very unthoughtful. The average mind has the ablility to know what is RIGHT and what is WRONG. We all are educated on the affect of drugs on the mind and body and it is up to us as adults to educate and let the children of our generation to make well eduacated choices. We learn and live from out mistakes. I think that the budget cut of PROP 36 is a disaster. I think is should be taken to courts and repealed.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I cannot believe the ignorance in some of these peoples comments for abolishing prop 36. All I hear is people complaining, “Why should I have to pay for all these stupid drug addicts treatment? They are the ones who got themselves into it, they should pay the price!” Just like the person before me has said, prop 36 is not free by any means! My significant other still has over $700 to pay for his treatment and thats not including the $1000 he has to pay in restitution! This program helps people who have got caught up in drugs, but would normally have led a productive life. Instead of my significant other having a felony on his record for drugs that cost less than $20, he will only have a misdomenor and will have a better chance at jobs in the future. This program is probably the best thing since sliced bread for us addicts. To someone on the outside it is easy to say, “just stop using” but we know differently. This program has given us addicts tools to fix our own lives, while providing guidance as we walk through the process. I will admit that there are a lot of people in the program who are not ready and will not make it, but by just showing up, even while still using, they will learn something so that when the day comes and that person wants to change their life they are not ignorant on what to do about it. It took me almost 6 months of treatment to finally get it. I am saddened by the closure of this program. One day it could be you who needs help, just hope that our gov. wont turn his back on you.