Pubdate: Fri, 31 Aug 2001
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Stuart Pfeifer, Times Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm (Substance Abuse and Crime 
Prevention Act)

O.C. JUDGES BOOST REACH OF PROP. 36

An Orange County appeals panel has ruled that a new law that requires 
counseling instead of jail for drug offenders also applies to those 
caught with paraphernalia such as needles and cocaine pipes.

The ruling by a panel of Superior Court judges led the Anaheim city 
attorney's office to stop seeking jail sentences for people caught 
with paraphernalia, prosecutors disclosed Thursday.

Supporters of Proposition 36 praised the decision, saying it was 
illogical to counsel people arrested with heroin but jail those 
caught only with needles. Judges Frank F. Fasel and Nancy Wieben 
Stock also ruled that the proposition approved in November applies to 
arrests before and after the law took effect July 1.
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