Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jan 2001
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2001, The Bakersfield Californian
Contact:  PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440
Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm (CA Prop 36)

STATE FUNDS TO SPUR DRUG TREATMENT

Kern County will get $1.2 million for treatment services under a ballot 
measure requiring treatment of nonviolent drug users.

The funds - Kern's share of $60 million statewide allocated by Proposition 
36 - respond to the new demand for drug treatment of certain drug offenders 
once they are no longer being jailed. The measure takes effect July 1.

Kern officials said they did not know whether the funds would be enough to 
cover the costs of the extra treatment because there are so many unanswered 
questions about how the program will work. There are questions about which 
offenders must go to treatment instead of jail, so it is not clear how much 
treatment will be needed, said District Attorney Edward Jagels.

Many drug offenders now sentenced to treatment pay for that treatment, said 
Steven Fambrough, a Kern Probation Department division director. There are 
other free programs for those offenders who cannot afford it, but those 
programs won't be enough to meet the new demand, Fambrough said. That's 
where the extra state money comes in, Fambrough said.

Typical in-house treatment programs can cost up to $700 per month, 
Fambrough said. Outpatient treatment is less expensive, he said.

After July 1, California counties will start receiving $120 million a year 
for the services.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D