Local rush to implement Prop 36

"The difficulty will be being able to find places to put the [rehab facilities]," said Jim Stansberry, executive director of Project 90. "We've had difficulty in getting located in the past."

Stansberry said residents are often concerned about having a residential treatment facility in their community. "Their concerns are centered around fear because they anticipate problems," he said. "But once we've been somewhere for a while, we've had a limited amount of difficulty."

Despite the increased need for facilities, Stansberry supports Prop. 36. "I believe it makes a lot more sense for initial offenses," he said. "We can get the right seeds planted, the seeds of recovery, instead of the wrong seeds."

Many in law enforcement agree that treatment is the correct method, however, they are concerned that there will not be enough rehabilitation centers to accommodate all who need treatment.

"We want there to be a good number of programs out there," said Steve Wagstaffe, chief deputy district attorney in San Mateo County. "We don't want people to be sent to some fly-by-night treatment center that doesn't do its job, or we'll just see them back here."

There will not be too much change on the side of law enforcement, Wagstaffe said. "We still have to file charges here and prove whether or not they're guilty," he said. "We'll keep doing what we do day-in, day-out." He added, though, that there is a possibility the courts will see more trials as a result of Prop 36. Some in law enforcement worry Prop 36 will undermine the current drug court system.

"We are disappointed, the drug court system has been fairly successful," said Peter Lynch, deputy district attorney in San Mateo County. " doesn't look like it's going to be effective, it won't make people really seek treatment."

But Stansberry thinks it will only expand drug courts, which he believes is a good program with limited funding. "The drug court program is only available to a select few," he said. Wagstaffe does not think Prop 36 will end drug court. "The theory behind drug court is that if you mess up we'll punish you and with Prop 36 it takes away the punishment," he said. Project 90 limits its treatment programs to residential facilities, but Stansberry said, with the passage of Prop 36, they could begin some out-patient service to accommodate the increased need. In Stansberry's 28 years of experience with Project 90 he said they have proven that treatment is more effective than jail time, and the costs are less. "For every $1 spent on treatment they save $7 in prison costs, per person. will mean a big switch in thinking."