Prop. 36 Program Analysis

There are some negative aspects to the program that can make it challenging for offenders to complete. In a (personal communication, Dec 2016) an anonymous source, shared her personal struggles with the program. She mentioned that the most difficult part of the program for her, was dealing with the pre-trail services. Upon signing up for pre-trail services, she was assigned to a “testing group” and “call Instructions” that required her to call the testing hotline on a daily basis, 7 days a week including holidays. In addition, when her testing group was selected she had to report to the pre-trial office and urine test. At times this was difficult for her to do, because she either had no ride or was at work. Additionally, she lived out of town,

The Prop.36 program has caused many people involve in the program to become dependent on its resources. According to the (County of Santa Clara, 2012) those who partake in Prop. 36 treatment program receive some sort of aid for their involvement. These aids can include housing, food, counseling, transportation assistance, and vouchers for medical services, literacy training, vocational training, and childcare. Through observation, it has become clear that this could be another drawback to the program. Although, it’s great to offer these kinds resources. What happens once these resources are revoked? Upon being successful in the program, a person’s resources are taken away, and most often people are left with some of the same issues that they faced when they first entered the program. This can be a frustrating and difficult experience for some people. Especially, for those who don’t have any outside help from family or friends. Therefore, it may be easier for them to relapse or break a minor law, so that they may remain in the program, for a further duration of time. Giving them further access to these types of

Therefore, the program can further benefit from new reforms. For instance, pre-trial services should be more easily available to defendants. If the courts are going to continue to demand random testing, then they need provide more testing facilities, so that defendants can easily have access to them. In addition, an adjustment needs to be made to the distribution of resources. Well, resources are beneficial and aid in the recovery process, they also form a dependent factor. Prop 36 has to find a better way to organize programs so that it suits better, to one’s recovery process. Through research on policy reform other (Open Society Foundation, 2013) has other alternatives to the drug policy reforms, which include decriminalization: The removal of criminal sanctions for minor drug offenses. In some cases civil sanctions, such as fines, are imposed instead of jail time. Depenalization: The retention of drug offenses as a crime, but with discretionary enforcement based on practical considerations and community needs. Regulated Access: Government control of illegal drugs in order to experiment with a range of options. All ideas, which can be beneficial to improving or changing the way Proposition 36