New program in San Diego offers chronic drug offenders a commitment to housing along with drug treatment

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/11/goldsmith-drug-crime-treatment-misdemeanor/2/?#article-copy


Excerpt:

Goldsmith said the new program won’t succeed with everyone because he will have only the threat of misdemeanor conviction -- not a felony -- to persuade offenders to seek treatment. But Goldsmith said he’s optimistic many chronic offenders will choose the program, which the Police Department's Homeless Outreach Team has already begun offering to offenders, because they want a better life.

“We’re giving them more than just a bed on a cold night,” he said. “We’re giving them a commitment to housing along with drug treatment. Every one of these chronic offenders has a story and every one of them has buttons you can push to change their behavior and help themselves.”

And he predicted strong public support.

“This is a serious community problem,” he said. “The voters have said clearly ‘we want these problems to be addressed through treatment, not through warehousing in jail.’”