Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 Source: Ventura County Star (CA) Copyright: 2001, Ventura County Star Page: B01 Contact: http://www.staronline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/479 Author: Tamara Koehler; Staff writer Cited: Lindesmith Drug Policy Foundation http://www.drugpolicy.org/ Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm (Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act) http://www.mapinc.org/soros.htm (Soros, George) http://www.mapinc.org/find?168 (Lewis, Peter) http://www.mapinc.org/sperling.htm (Sperling, John) PROP. 36 BACKERS WANT OTHER STATES TO PASS MEASURES Supporters Say Laws Help Reduce Crime, The Number Of Drug Addicts Backers of Proposition 36 intend to launch similar ballot measures in other states in the hopes of changing the "way this country on a national level deals with drug offenders," a co-author of the initiative said this week. Dan Abrahamson, head lawyer at the Lindesmith Drug Policy Foundation in San Francisco, spoke to a group of treatment providers, lawyers and law enforcement officials Monday night in Oxnard about how the new law was written and its intent. Abrahamson acknowledged the tensions and concerns over the details of the initiative, but emphasized voters spoke "loud and clear -- the status quo, the old way of dealing with drug offenders is not working." Proposition 36, which voters approved by a 2-1 margin in November, is the most sweeping change in the criminal justice system in decades. The new law requires judges to sentence nonviolent misdemeanor and felony drug offenders to treatment programs instead of jail or prison. Those who violate their probation or parole for drug-related charges must also be given the option of treatment first. Abrahamson said a similar law was passed in Arizona four years ago that is showing "treatment does work." Using the results from Arizona and eventually California, Abrahamson said he and a group of drug-law reformists will be pushing similar initiatives in other states in the next two years. Proposition 36 was financed by three wealthy out-of-state backers -- George Soros, Peter Lewis and John Sperling -- who oppose lengthy prison and jail terms for low-level drug offenders. Critics say the three men, as well as Abrahamson's foundation, are advocating the legalization of drugs, particularly marijuana, through measures such as Proposition 36. But Abrahamson said the new law only changes the consequences for drug-possession offenses, and addresses the longstanding lack of treatment for addicts. "The core principle of Proposition 36 is treatment," he said. "Yet, for the last 20 to 30 years, treatment has been put on the back burner. It has become the poor stepchild to the criminal justice system which relies heavily on arrest, prosecution and incarceration of low-level drug offenders." Proposition 36 makes public health, not criminal justice, the focus of the law when it comes to dealing with addicts arrested for possession and use of drugs, including heroin and cocaine, Abrahamson said. The proposition also mandates that a felony conviction for drug possession be expunged from a person's record if he or she successfully completes the Proposition 36 treatment program. About 3,500 to 4,000 drug offenders in Ventura County are expected to qualify for Proposition 36-mandated treatment, said Luis Tovar, director of the Behavioral Health Department's Drug and Alcohol Program division. Ventura County will be getting roughly $2.4 million from the $120 million of state general fund money set aside each year under Proposition 36. Several asked Abrahamson how that annual amount was selected, saying it appeared to be too low to meet the demand and cost of expanded treatment. He said the amount was selected based on estimations by the independent Legislative Analyst's Office. By 2005-06, the money will stop flowing but the law requiring treatment instead of jail will remain on the books. Abrahamson said at that point the state Legislature will have to step in and decide whether to keep funding the treatment mandate. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake