Editorial: Gov. must not backtrack on non-prison proposal

In a disappointing decision earlier this week, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger backtracked from his proposal to allow parole
violators other options besides prison. Under the proposal, former
inmates with technical parole violations would have been placed in
drug treatment programs, halfway houses or monitored electronically
rather than being returned to prison.

Unfortunately, the proposal met stark opposition in the face of
the prison-guard union and some crime-victims organizations. The
prison-guard union, notorious in Sacramento for its heavy-handed
and well-funded lobbying, went so far as to run television ads
saying Schwarzenegger is too light on crime.

In an ironic twist of events, the “governator,” who
said he will battle “special interests,” has instead
caved into them. Schwarzenegger has repeatedly said his greatest
strength as a governor is that he is independently wealthy,
allowing him to operate without taking special interests to heart
““ or the pocketbook. It’s time for him to come through
on that claim.

Drug addicts do not belong in the same prison system as murders
and rapists. They need a different environment where they can
overcome their addiction.

If California was able to treat these inmates by providing drug
rehabilitation, the state would save $26,690 for each year the
inmate is not incarcerated. While drug rehabilitation may be more
expensive in the short run, it is cost-effective in the long run
since it can prevent an individual from returning to prison.

While Schwarzenegger deserves credit for his initial proposal,
it’s time he live up to his movie trailer and fight special
interests.