Yolo County District Attorney Reports on the Success of Prop. 36 One Year In

Press Release

(Woodland, CA) - December 17, 2025 -Proposition 36 passed with 60 percent of the vote in Yolo County, taking effect on December 18, 2024. One year in, the Yolo County District Attorney's Office has reported positive results.

During this first year, 130 complaints alleging felony violations of the newly enacted Health and Safety Code section 11395, possession of hard drugs with two or more priors, have been filed. Additionally, 187 complaints alleging a violation of newly enacted Penal Code section 666.1, shoplifting with two or more priors, were filed. 148 of those cases filed were felonies, while 39 were misdemeanors. At the end of that one-year period, Defendants in 73 of these new Prop. 36 cases failed to appear in court and had warrants issued for their arrest.

Since the implementation of Prop. 36, Yolo County has resolved several felony and misdemeanor drug possession cases under Health and Safety Code section 11395, using a range of outcomes focused on accountability and recovery. To date, 23 defendants have resolved their cases, with 12 choosing to participate in Prop. 36 mandated treatment. The remaining defendants rejected mandated treatment, choosing traditional punishment instead. In those cases, three were placed on probation, and eight received county prison sentences. Lastly, four cases resolved for misdemeanor resolutions.

These results reflect the District Attorney's Office's commitment to using Prop. 36 as intended, holding people accountable while prioritizing treatment when it is appropriate and available. "Proposition 36 was designed to address repeat drug possession in a way that recognizes addiction as a health issue as well as a legal one," said District Attorney Jeff Reisig. "These cases show that when treatment is appropriate, we are using it. Accountability matters but so does giving people a real opportunity to get help and break the cycle of addiction."

Yolo County has also resolved a significant number of theft-related cases under Penal Code section 666.1, with outcomes tailored to the facts of each case and the individual's history. So far, 26 felony cases have been resolved, including 6 resulting in probation, 17 resulting in county prison sentences, and 4 resulting in state prison commitments. In addition, 28 misdemeanor cases under section 666.1 have been resolved.

"With theft cases, our responsibility is to protect the community while making sure the response fits the conduct," said District Attorney Reisig. "The outcomes in these cases reflect a careful, case-by-case approach that uses probation, local custody, or state prison, when necessary, rather than a one-size-fits-all response."

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