UCLA Completes Six-Year Evaluation of California's Proposition 36, Recommends Program Improvements and Addresses Funding Issues

This is the final report of a six-year independent, statewide evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA), also known as Proposition 36, which was passed by California voters in November 2000. UCLA researchers found that SACPA results in a net savings to taxpayers, has introduced thousands of substance abusers to treatment and has not affected statewide crime trends. The report identifies areas where reforms are necessary to improve treatment placement and treatment attendance and to reduce re-offending. Options for improvements, and the funding that they would require, are discussed.