County Supervisors Vote To Find More Money For Prop 36 Requirements

SAN DIEGO, CA — The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously called on the state to fully fund local implementation of Proposition 36, a crime-related measure approved by voters last year.

Supervisors, according to the board letter authored by Supervisor Jim Desmond and county Sheriff Kelly Martinez, directed the chief administrative officer to "pursue state funding resources to support the implementation of Proposition 36 at the local county level, specifically for law enforcement, justice and behavioral health functions."

CAO Ebony Shelton will also work with other county departments on advocating for Proposition 36 support.

Passed by voters in November 2024, Proposition 36 reclassifies certain petty theft and drug crimes as felonies, and also partially reversed 2014's Proposition 47, which reduced certain low-level felonies to misdemeanors.

Prosecutors can now charge people with a treatment-mandated felony, which would direct them to substance use disorder or mental health treatment in lieu of up to three years in jail or prison.

In a statement, Desmond described Proposition 36 as "the common-sense measure that put an end to the smash-and-grabs, held fentanyl dealers accountable and got people struggling with addiction into treatment."

"Californians overwhelmingly supported it because they were tired of seeing criminals walk free and communities left vulnerable," Desmond added.

But Desmond said Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature "provided only a fraction of the funding needed to make it work."

"San Diego County is sending a clear message to Sacramento: you cannot ignore the will of the people," Desmond said. "Counties cannot be expected to carry out this law without the resources to do it right."

In a brief presentation during Tuesday's meeting, Martinez said there have been 3,300 people booked into county jails since Proposition 36 passed, with an average length of stay for inmates being 26 days.

"We want to get people into treatment," Desmond said during the meeting. Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe said she supported Desmond's measure, but wanted to see the county divert more money into behavioral health services.

Her colleague Paloma Aguirre said that following the passage of Proposition 36, "it's our responsibility to implement in a way that reflects compassionate treatment and a vision for public safety grounded in prevention and community strength."

— City News Service