California prosecutors have filed nearly 20,000 drug possession felony cases under a tough-on-crime measure passed in 2024. But despite promises to get people into services, the vast majority of those arrested have not received drug treatment, state data reveals. In Prop 36’s first year, less than 1% of drug felony charges resulted in defendants completing treatment programs, data shows. No mass treatmentProp 36 allowed prosecutors to file felony drug possession cases against people with two or more previous drug convictions. In Santa Clara, Latinos are 21% of the population, but 55% of Prop 36 drug charges.

Source: The Guardian March 19, 2026 14:25 UTC