BROOKS, BRADBURY ASSAIL PROP. 36

Ventura County's two top lawmakers stood together Wednesday in
opposition to Proposition 36, a ballot initiative that would divert
many nonviolent drug offenders into treatment rather than to jail or
prison.

Flanked by prosecutors, narcotics officers and members of the county's
various drug treatment programs, Sheriff Bob Brooks and Dist. Atty.
Michael D. Bradbury each warned of dire social consequences if the
initiative is approved by voters Tuesday.

"Nobody here in law enforcement is against rehabilitation, but it
doesn't mean we don't need to keep aggressive law enforcement,"
Bradbury said at a news conference outside the main entrance to the
Ventura County Jail.

Brooks said the initiative is an attempt by those interested in
legalizing drugs to push their agenda through.

"Don't let Proposition 36 take us down the slippery slope toward the
decriminalization of drugs," Brooks said.

The initiative would allocate $120 million toward placing drug
offenders in treatment programs and dismiss their charges upon
successful completion of the programs. Money would be funneled to
counties throughout the state to operate the drug treatment programs.

Supporters of Proposition 36 said the initiative offers voters the
chance to fundamentally change the way courts handle drug
prosecutions.

"This is certainly not legalization of drugs. You go to jail if you
don't complete treatment," said Dave Fratello, a spokesman for the Yes
On Proposition 36 campaign. "The folks in law enforcement are finding
that voters don't trust law enforcement to deal with the drug war."