PROP. 36 WOULD FUND DRUG-COURT IMPROVEMENTS

Re: "Punishment or treatment?" (A-1, Aug. 6):

Your story demonstrated why Proposition 36 should be passed in November. In
the same edition, your Arts section reported that the city of San Diego has
a $10 million budget for the arts. That just happens to be the same amount
as the state has pledged for drug courts under the Drug Court Partnership Act.

Until we have more funding for drug offenders as we have in drug courts
now, we must continue with our current drug policies. Proposition 36 would
provide $120 million annually to enable us to have a new and different
relationship with drug offenders.

The criminal justice system always has adjusted to changes in the law and I
am sure it will accommodate whatever Proposition 36 may bring.

David W. Ryan, Superior Court Judge, Vista