The Stimulus and the Drug War

The state of California is under court order to reduce its prison population, but officials can't seem to shake their drug war policythink. The state is actually considering an expansion of local police task forces that have proven effective at making drug arrests, and using federal stimulus money to do it.

The L.A. Times reported yesterday that the state is reviewing a plan to devote $33 million in federal funds to law enforcement groups focused on drug arrests.

"While one side of the government is addressing prison overcrowding, another side seems to be acting directly counter to that goal," said Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, deputy state director of the nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance.

...The Drug Policy Alliance estimates that the increase could yield 13,000 arrests during the coming year, resulting in prison time for nearly a quarter of those apprehended, at a cost of $160 million.

One hand of California's government is sending funding to spark drug arrests, while the other cuts deeply from treatment - a proven method of reducing addiction and violence based on drugs. The state has cut more than half of its $120 million budget for drug treatment in the last year. This stimulus money could be much better spent on treatment than expanding incarceration.

In all, the federal government has awarded California $135.6 million in federal stimulus money - more than any other state - under the Justice Assistance Grants program. Download this PDF to find out how much your state got and how it plans to spend the money.

Much of the language in this document shows at least an attempt to divert some federal funding toward positive programs like treatment, prevention, community policing and drug courts. But highlighting rehabilitation when drawing funds is one thing, actually funding the programs is another. California's step toward drug enforcement is a sign that at least one state will be slow to change.