Pubdate: Tue, 13 Feb 2001
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2001 The Fresno Bee
Contact:  http://www.fresnobee.com/man/opinion/letters.html
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Author: Charles McCarthy, The Fresno Bee
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prop36.htm (Substance Abuse and Crime 
Prevention Act)

MADERA CO. TAKES STEPS FOR PROP. 36

MADERA -- The Board of Supervisors Monday committed Madera County to 
provide 18 months of treatment instead of jail or prison for nonviolent 
drug offenders.

After airing its suspicion that the program mandated last November by the 
state's voters in Proposition 36 would pile another burden on Madera County 
taxpayers, the board voted 4-0 to seek as much funding as it can get from 
the state to run its drug-treatment program.

The board's fifth voting member, Chairman Gary Gilbert, was snowbound in 
North Fork.

"We don't really know what the impact, what the caseload will be," Chief 
Probation Officer Harry Nabors told the board.

The board directed county Alcohol and Drug Administrator Janice Melton to 
organize Madera County's compliance with Prop. 36. The county has until 
March 1 to apply for $227,302 in state funding. That initial stipend would 
cover organizing and having the program ready by July 1.

Melton said the state based its funding for the mandatory treatment program 
on each county's annual count of drug cases. In Madera County, that would 
be about 400 cases a year.

Melton estimated the state would give Madera County double the $227,302 
setup money to cover the first year's operation.

The county's program also would need to keep spaces open for those who 
volunteer for drug treatment, she said.

Prop. 36 also covers parolees and probationers caught with illegal drugs in 
their possession, Melton said. The state will limit its support to 
treatment, supervision and probation services.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D