Good morning, Inequality Insights readers. I’m Wendy Fry.
Californians are set to vote subsequent month on Proposition 36, which goals to scale back drug-related crimes by steering repeat offenders towards therapy somewhat than jail. The poll initiative would additionally improve punishments for sure drug and theft offenses. It seems more likely to go, with polls displaying voters broadly supporting the measure. California Native Information Fellow Cayla Mihalovich regarded into one of many measure’s key guarantees and located behavioral well being leaders involved it gained’t be fulfilled as a result of counties lack enough services, providers and workers.
Prop. 36 would create what it calls a “treatment-mandated felony.” Prosecutors might carry the cost in opposition to folks arrested for possession of sure medication, comparable to fentanyl or heroin, who’ve two or extra earlier convictions for sure drug crimes. If a defendant pleads responsible or no contest, they might have the ability to select between therapy or as much as three years behind bars. Those that end therapy would have their prices dismissed.
Supporters argue Prop. 36 is critical to deal with the state’s drug disaster and homelessness. They are saying the measure can save lives and supply drug customers a greater likelihood to remain housed and reintegrate into society. Yolo County District Lawyer Jeff Reisig stated the measure offers judges extra leverage to mandate therapy in California’s voluntary drug courtroom system, which noticed participation plummet after the state stopped sending many drug customers to jail.
Behavioral well being specialists, nonetheless, warn that California lacks the capability to help the inflow of people that may be mandated into therapy.
Contra Costa County Chief Public Defender Ellen McDonnell stated Prop. 36 would criminalize poverty and improve the over-incarceration of Black and brown folks. She referred to as the mandated therapy a “fantasy” given the shortage of sources.
A 2022 report by California’s Division of Well being Care Providers discovered 70% of the state’s 58 counties reported “urgently needing” residential dependancy therapy providers. Almost two dozen counties had no residential therapy in any respect. Learn extra in Cayla’s story for CalMatters.
DON’T MISS
- Again pay. Tens of hundreds of California ride-hailing drivers could ultimately get again pay after a current U.S. Supreme Court docket choice permitting California to proceed in its wage theft lawsuits in opposition to Uber and Lyft filed in 2020, writes CalMatters economic system reporter Levi Sumagaysay.
- Jail deaths. Inland Empire inmates make up 19% of those that die in custody. Jail time or arrests turned dying sentences for 442 individuals who died in custody within the Inland Empire from 2011 to 2022, a prison justice nonprofit discovered. That features 216 deaths in custody in San Bernardino County and 226 deaths in Riverside County, CalMatters’ Deborah Brennan studies.
- Foster youngsters. Almost 9,000 foster youngsters in California are prone to dropping their houses because of an insurance coverage disaster threatening the existence of nonprofit foster household companies, that are fighting rising prices and potential lack of protection, the San Francisco Commonplace studies.
- Financial institution loans. More and more, racial information is being neglected of financial institution mortgage reporting, making it tougher for regulators to implement lending fairness legal guidelines, in response to Yahoo finance. Some 5,000 U.S. monetary establishments are required to gather details about race. The coverage is supposed to assist flag potential discrimination in opposition to debtors.
- Immigration shift. U.S. public opinion on immigration has shifted dramatically, with a big improve in anti-immigration sentiment over the previous 4 years. This shift is pushed by each partisan backlash in opposition to the Biden administration and reactions to frame points, in response to The Atlantic.
- Faculty self-discipline. A just lately launched report by the U.S. Authorities Accountability Workplace discovered that Black women obtain extra frequent and extra extreme self-discipline in class than different women. Black feminine college students comprised 15 p.c of all women in public colleges, however they acquired nearly half of suspensions and expulsions, 2017–18 college information reveals.
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Thanks for studying,
Wendy and the California Divide Crew
