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| 3 September 2000 - The San Diego Union-Tribune Judges, other assail drug diversion initiative Foe say Prop. 36 has no threat of jail By Greg Moran Calling it bad medicine for drug addicts, county judges, lawyers and public health providers at a drug task force meeting last week lined up against a state ballot initiative from jails to treatment. Given the setting – the quarterly meeting of the Methamphetamine Strike Force – perhaps that was not surprising. But the two-hour discussion Of Proposition 36 also included vigorous advocacy of the measure from two supporters who contended that it would treat more drug addicts than get treatment now. Proposition 36 would provide up to $120 million a year for treatment for nonviolent first- and second-time drug offenders. A poll released late last month showed 55 percent of voters supporting the measure. But San Diego Superior Court Judge Bonnie Dumanis, who helped establish the county's drug court system, said passage would be a bad idea. Bumanis and other judges say that the measure is missing a vital component present in the current drug courts: the ability of judges to throw addicts into jail if drug tests turn up positive. Dumanis said the specter of "swift, sure sanctions" is a key to getting addicts to stay dean and sober. She described the measure as a stalking horse for a larger goal: decriminalization of drugs. That description was rebutted by Bill Zimmerman, campaign director for the California Campaign for New Drug Polices, chief sponsor of the initiative. Zimmerman said the initiative would not dilute drug courts and instead would set up a "parallel system" of drug treatment that could reach thousands more offenders. He said judges still could jail offenders, who failed drug treatment several times. Zimmerman accused drug court judges across the state of being in an "unholy alliance" with the prison guards union and an association of state narcotics officers to defeat the measure. Those two groups are chief bankrollers of the opposition. Proponents are counting on the deep pockets of multibillionaire financier George Soros, a leading advocate of drug policies that emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration; and of two multimillionaire drug policy reformers. Also opposing the measure Friday were Deputy District Attorney Lori Koster, who coordinates the drug court program for the District Attorney's Office; and county public health officials. Koster said drug treatment is not effective without the threat of jail. The county's drug courts deal with nonviolent offenders arrested on drug possession charges, A yearlong program requires participants to plead guilty to all charges against them and then go through. a, regimen of regular testing, counseling and drug rehabilitation. Failure can result in in immediate trip to jail. Officials say the program works and that about 15 percent of those admitted to program relapse and fail. The program is highly selective. Fewer than 2 percent of people arrested on drug charges 'in the county last year were admitted, Zimmerman said. County Public Defender Steve Carroll complained that the program is not expansive enough and that prosecutors reject many candidates, such as gang members. Article Snapshot (36K) |
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