Evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act 2002 Report

Proposition 36 was passed by the California electorate in November 2000 and enacted into law as the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA). SACPA represents a major shift in criminal justice policy. Adults convicted of nonviolent drug-related offenses and otherwise eligible for SACPA can now be sentenced to probation with drug treatment instead of either probation without treatment or incarceration. Offenders on probation or parole who commit nonviolent drug-related offenses or who violate drug-related conditions of their release may also receive treatment. An independent evaluation of SACPAs implementation, fiscal impact, and effectiveness was mandated in the initiative.

The Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) was designated by the Governors Office to serve as the lead agency in implementing and evaluating SACPA. In turn, ADP chose UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs to conduct the independent evaluation of SACPA over a five and one- half year period beginning January 1, 2001 and ending June 30, 2006. The evaluation will include analyses of cost-offset, client outcomes, implementation, and lessons learned.