California Dreaming California saves oney favoring treatment over incarceration for drug offenders
Two recent voter-approved measures in California that shift the focus toward treatment for nonviolent drug offenders have saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars—and the savings are expected to continue. Proposition 47, voted into law in November 2014, stands to save the state $150 million to $250 million per year, while the earlier Proposition 36 saved the Golden State $100 million per year in its first two years. Researchers point to these results in California, often a bellwether for the rest of the country, as evidence that treatment is not only more compassionate but more cost- effective for nonviolent drug offenders than prison. Promise of Prop 47 Northern California in a post on the ACLU website. “We should convert minor offenses from felonies to misdemeanors so that the
Proposition 47 reduces almost all nonviolent, non-serious drug and property crimes, without intent to sell, from felonies to misdemeanors. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in September 2014 that the measure is projected to save $150 to $250 million per year.The money saved will be funneled into a fund for financing mental health treatment, truancy and dropout prevention, schools and victim compensation programs. Proposition 47 applies retroactively, allowing for people currently incarcerated to apply for resentencing. According to a Los Angeles Times report in September 2014, this means one in five California prisoners will be eligible to be set free. Proposition 47 not only saves “the state hundreds of millions annually while keeping communities safe,” it also prevents “locking people up for minor offenses when they pose no threat to public safety,” writes Allen Hopper of the ACLU of
punishment and its associated cost to taxpayers fit the crime.” Allen notes that “felony sentences should be reserved for serious offenses that truly threaten public safety.” Earlier measure showed results Proposition 47 is not California’s first attempt at saving money by funneling nonviolent drug offenders into treatment. Its predecessor was the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act of 2000 (SACPA). SACPA paroled first- or second- time personal drug use offenders on the condition of participation in a licensed substance abuse treatment program. Offender motivation or suitability standards were not required.Those with current non-drug or violent charges were ineligible.
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