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"Money is gone, but Proposition 36's drug-treatment mandate remains"

By Douglas A. Berman

The title of this post is the headline of this very interesting piece from the Oakland Tribune concerning California drug sentencing laws and programs.  Here are excerpts: County officials who administer the state's treatment-not-jail program for certain drug offenders are struggling with a lack of funding that's not likely to improve, but advocates say ignoring the mandate simply isn't an option.  Instead, officials are trying to figure out how they'll continue to provide the same treatment without the money to pay for it. Enacted by 61 percent of voters in November 2000 as Proposition 36, the law says first- and second-time nonviolent, simple drug possession offenders must be given the opportunity to receive substance-abuse treatment instead of jail time...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 22, 2011 (boomark / email).