The Daily Californian
October 28, 2008

Proposition 5

While those who committed the crime should do the time, there needs to be an emphasis on rehabilitation rather than incarceration. This initiative aims to improve drug treatment programs for nonviolent criminal offenders. More rehabilitation programs would also be instated for those already in prison.

Proposition 5 will likely shave away at the slice of the state budget spent on prisons every year. Instead of locking them up with the rest, those who commit nonviolent crimes may be given an opportunity at the drug treatment route instead. The fear that an offender will be able to use addiction as an excuse for a laundry list of nonviolent crimes is unfounded, as a judge has the final say in whether the offender is permitted to enter a rehabilitation program.

Provide inmates and parolees with treatment services while saving the state budget. Vote Yes on Proposition 5.