Prop. 36 promised treatment for people with serious drug addiction, but jails are left holding the bag

"Billed as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act on the November 2024 ballot, Proposition 36 won easily with the support of more than two-thirds of California voters. The initiative backed by large retailers and law enforcement turned certain drug and theft crimes from misdemeanors to felonies, meaning steeper consequences for repeat offenders, but also the option of treatment for people with long-term drug addictions. But it came with no dedicated funding source, leaving the state and counties to absorb the costs."

"In the lead-up to the election, Gov. Gavin Newsom argued that locking up more people would siphon money from community treatment programs. He refused to include funding for Proposition 36 in this year's budget, but after pressure from state lawmakers including Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas he agreed to allocate $110 million to courts, behavioral health programs and public defenders. Jails the first stop for anyone arrested under the new law were left out, despite lobbying from sheriffs, including San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez."

"The Sheriff's Office says it's spent nearly $32 million to house people booked under Proposition 36 drug and theft charges since the law took effect on Dec. 18, forcing the department to shift money away from infrastructure projects and a plan to purchase a $16 million helicopter, Martinez said. We're sustaining right now, she said, but I don't know how long that will last."

Proposition 36 passed with more than two-thirds of California voters and reclassified certain drug and theft offenses from misdemeanors to felonies, increasing penalties for repeat offenders while providing an option of treatment for people with long-term drug addictions. Large retailers and law enforcement supported the measure. The initiative included no dedicated funding, forcing state and counties to absorb costs. Governor Gavin Newsom initially refused budget funding but later allocated $110 million to courts, behavioral health programs and public defenders; jails received no state funding despite sheriff lobbying. San Diego Sheriff's Office reports nearly $32 million spent to house people booked under the new law.

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