Proposition 36 Is Not A Program, It’s A Law

California’s $24 billion budget deficit and the cuts being proposed in by Governor Schwarzenegger are of much concern to the folks at St. Anthony’s. While St. Anthony’s does not accept any government funding for it’s programs and services the impact will be felt hard here. Our guests will have less support in their communities and our programs and their staff will serve even more people to make up for the closure of near by services.

One program we’re already seeing a demand for is Father Alfred Center, our year-long drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Many of the men who come to Father Alfred Center for help are participating in Proposition 36, the 2001 California voter approved law that defers first time drug offenders to substance abuse treatment instead of prison.

Yesterday the Budget Conference Committee in Sacramento voted to stop funding Prop 36 entirely. If approved by the Assembly and State Senate many programs that are qualified to provide treatment will close.

This does not mean that those first time offenders would go to prison instead as Prop 36 is not a program, but a California law. This prevents judges from placing first time offenders in prison as they must defer to treatment.  If this cut is approved it would mean they would neither receive treatment or prison.

Those unable to pay for treatment themselves will have to wait in even longer lines, longer than the three months many are waiting now. Many will die of addictive illness while waiting to get help.

We’ve recently added more beds to Father Alfred Center in preparation, but it won’t make up for all the other beds in programs that could possibly close.

Written by Shaun Osburn, Senior Communications Associate / Webmaster.