California Prop 36 Treatment Mandates Vary Widely by County, Leaving Gaps in Drug Treatment Access
Two years after California voters passed Proposition 36 requiring drug treatment for certain theft and drug offenses, counties are implementing treatment-mandated felony provisions inconsistently — with treatment durations ranging from three months in Ventura County to two years in San Luis Obispo County. Officials who supported the measure acknowledge gaps in the state's treatment infrastructure, with people waiting for services while charges remain pending. Defendants entering plea deals face challenges securing employment with felony convictions on record during court-mandated treatment periods that can extend well beyond residential program completion. The lack of state-funded treatment capacity and standardized implementation protocols has left some individuals the law intended to help falling through the cracks, according to state and local officials.