| California Ballot Measure Reducing Penalty for | | | | parole violators to the prison population. |
| Non-Violent Drug Offenders Should Be Model for Feds. | | | | This measure should be followed closely by the feds. |
| One measure on the ballot in California this year would | | | | A substantial amount of federal criminal resources go |
| reform the way non-violent drug offenders are treated | | | | to fight drug-related crime. If non-violent drug-related |
| by the criminal justice system. In a state that has | | | | offenders were provided treatment in the federal |
| routinely increased criminal penalties, this measure is | | | | system, rather than incarceration, inmate populations |
| seen as a major departure. | | | | would decrease. More importantly, society would |
| This measure is not endorsed by members of the | | | | benefit if drug addiction was treated rather than |
| criminal justice system. For example, Los Angeles | | | | criminalized. |
| County Superior Court Judge Michael Tynan said the | | | | Geoff Mousseau normally writes about white collar |
| measure would be like throwing money down a rat | | | | issues. However, many criminal acts are either fueled |
| hole. | | | | by drugs or motivated by the need to buy drugs, even |
| California's nonpartisan legislative analyst reports that | | | | when the person is a stock broker, lawyer, or politician. |
| costs over time associated with the measure, | | | | Sometimes we need to take a critical look at whether |
| estimated at up to $1 billion, would be balanced by an | | | | policy choices are working. Has the criminalization of |
| equivalent amount of savings by reducing incarceration. | | | | non-violent behavior resulting from drug addiction lead |
| The measure would direct most non-violent | | | | to a reduction in drug addiction? Has this policy really |
| drug-related offenders to treatment, rather than prison. | | | | provided a benefit? Unless the answer to this question |
| The measure would also require increased levels of | | | | is a resounding yes, then we should be open to |
| treatment for those already incarcerated. And the | | | | alternatives. |
| measure would revamp the parole system, reducing | | | | The measure currently on the California ballot is an |
| parole lengths and making it more difficult to return | | | | alternative worthy of consideration. |