DAVIS SAYS DRUG POLICY NEEDS THREAT OF PRISON

Governor Gives His Views On List Of Initiatives

Saying ``we need treatment and the potential to go to jail'' to get
the attention of addicts, Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday condemned an
initiative that would divert thousands of drug offenders to treatment
instead of jail or prison.

Proposition 36, a highly controversial measure, effectively would
decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs by mandating
treatment instead of jail or prison for non-violent, first-or
second-time drug offenders.

``As someone whose brother-in-law killed himself because of drug and
alcohol addiction and left a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old behind, I
know that we need more than just a treatment option,'' the governor
said. ``So I join with a lot of law enforcement officials and Martin
Sheen, who certainly has had his own experience with his son's drug
use, in thinking that, yes, treatment is a part of the answer, but
only part. The other part is incarceration.''

Sheen, star of NBC's popular ``The West Wing,'' has served as chairman
of the No on 36 campaign.

An aide said Davis believes Proposition 36 is flawed because it does
not require convicted drug offenders to undergo drug testing while in
treatment and because it would stunt the growth of the state's ``drug
courts,'' which provide treatment with a continued threat of
incarceration.

Passage of Proposition 36 could divert up to 36,000 people from jails
and prisons each year -- dramatically increasing the number of
recovery houses and outpatient treatment clinics needed throughout the
state. Most of those programs would likely locate in residential
neighborhoods.

But it would save the state up to $200 million a year in jail and
prison costs and relieve enough pressure on the system to avoid the
construction of one prison at a one-time savings of $450 million,
according to an independent analysis by the state.

On Proposition 35, which features a battle between public and private
engineering interests that have financially supported him, Davis
decided to stay neutral.

The initiative would allow state and local governments to expand the
number of architectural and engineering contracts they give to private
companies.

Davis said he supports Proposition 32, the veterans bond act;
Proposition 33, which offers legislators a pension plan option; and
Proposition 34, which clarifies campaign contribution limits. He said
he opposes Proposition 37, which redefines compulsory fees as taxes to
require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.

Davis has previously indicated his opposition to the school voucher
initiative, Proposition 38, and his support for the school bond
measure, Proposition 39.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.