Senator Roger Niello, other bipartisan leaders and law enforcement officials spoke at the California State Capitol Building on June 18 to recognize the funding needed for Proposition 36. Photo courtesy of the Office of Senator Roger Niello

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A bipartisan group of state legislators, public safety officials and victim advocates gathered at the State Capitol on June 18 to recognize the initial investment in implementing the will of the voters while emphasizing the need for funding a comprehensive approach to probation and supervision reversing ongoing cuts to probation which will ensure the measure’s long-term success.

Specifically, attending the June 18 press conference included State Senator Catherine Blakespear, (D-Encinitas); State Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks); Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes, California State Sheriffs’ Association President; Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper; Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni, California District Attorneys Association First Vice President; San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez; San Joaquin County Probation Chief Steve Jackson, Chief Probation Officers of California President; Tulare County Probation Chief Kelly Vernon; El Dorado County Probation Chief Brian Richart; Solano County Probation Chief Dean Farrah; Lake County Probation Chief Wendy Mondfrans; Yuba County Probation Chief Matt Ricardy; Napa County Probation Chief Amanda Gibbs and Anna Berry with Crime Victims United-California.

“Proposition 36 passed with overwhelming voter support and now it’s time to provide the resources needed to implement it,” Blakespear said. “This initial investment is a strong first step in a tough budget year, but we need to make sure there is ongoing funding for supervision, treatment and accountability.”

Said Niello, “A budget is an expression of priorities and the current state budget does not acknowledge the will of the voters who overwhelmingly supported Proposition 36. The $110 million designated to fund Proposition 36 is wholly inadequate to achieve the goals of a treatment-focused approach that will lead to improving lives and self-sufficiency.”

The proposed budget includes an initial, one-time funding of $110 million toward Proposition 36. While this investment marks progress, public safety officials and law enforcement say it falls short. The initial plan misses the mark relative to the measure’s core component, ensuring accountability to complete court-mandated treatment. By failing to fully and properly fund law enforcement accountability efforts, the Legislature and governor are unable to meet the will of California voters and threatening the success of Proposition 36.

“We cannot implement Prop 36 effectively if we ignore the reality of what’s happening on the ground,” Barnes said. “County sheriffs and probation departments are essential partners in making sure treatment is delivered and enforced. But right now, we’ve been left out of the equation. We need real resources to deliver real results.”

Public safety officials emphasized that the budget must not only restore cuts to county probation departments but increase those funds as they are responsible for supervising court-ordered treatment and ensuring compliance. Without those frontline supports, there is no accountability. In the Legislature’s budget, there are $25 million in ongoing supervision cuts and $20 million in ongoing pre-trial cuts in the governor’s proposed budget.

“Probation ensures people stay on track with their treatment plans and court orders and holds them accountable when they don’t,” Jackson said. “This budget significantly cuts probation funding at the exact moment we’re being asked to do more. That means less people will follow through with rehabilitation and that threatens public safety.”

Even the funding that has been allocated is narrowly directed to county behavioral health departments, leaving out key justice system partners who are critical to successful outcomes.

“Treatment without accountability isn’t what Prop 36 says. We need to ensure law enforcement has resources it needs to best hold people accountable, which will improve public safety,” Pacioni said. “Voters said yes to Prop 36 because they wanted a better path forward. That means the budget needs to support the full system: courts, probation, law enforcement and treatment. Not just one piece of it. Otherwise, it is set up to fail.”

The Legislature’s proposed state budget specifically ignores critical elements, including no support and a budget cut for county probation departments to handle the increased workload of supervising individuals and connecting them to treatment in the community while holding them accountable; no resources for frontline law enforcement to support interventions in the community; no funding to house arrestees in county jails and provide in-custody treatment; and no funding for key partners of treatment delivery such as county sheriff and probation departments who are critical for court-ordered supervision and successful outcomes while only offering modest funds to county behavioral health agencies.

For more information, call Lea Park-Kim, Office of Senator Roger Niello's communications director, at 916-651-4006.