Prosecutors Alliance Action Executive Director Cristine Soto DeBerry issued the following statement in response to the passage of Proposition 36 by California voters:

“The passage of Prop 36 makes clear that California voters are frustrated – they want real solutions to homelessness, substance use disorder and crime. It’s disappointing that the proponents of Prop 36 have misled them into believing this initiative will be that solution. What Prop 36 will really do is take us backward, robbing our communities of hundreds of millions of dollars for treatment and crime prevention and cycling more people in and out of prison and jail. Our communities deserve better than playing politics with public safety.

The success of Prop 36 at the ballot box is not a rejection of reform; in fact, it shows that Californians favor policies prioritizing treatment and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, Prop 36 will fail to deliver the support it promised. There must be accountability when funding in our communities for treatment programs and victim services is cut due to increases in our prison and jail populations as a result of Prop 36.

We respect that the voters have spoken and Prop 36 is now the law, so we will work to minimize the harm we know it will cause. We’ll organize to ensure prosecutors use their discretion wisely and we’ll push the legislature to expand access to treatment and fund victim services. While Prop 36 proponents rely on the same failed strategy of throwing more people in prison and jail, we’ll keep fighting for the proactive public safety policies that address root causes of crime, invest in our communities, and give people second chances. That’s how we achieve true public safety.”

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