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SB 28

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) court program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Catherine Blakespear and 2 co-sponsors

SB 28 establishes statewide standards for California treatment court programs to ensure consistent quality, oversight, and outcomes in substance abuse and mental health-focused judicial alternatives.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
#communityassistance #recovery #andempowerment(care)courtprogram
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Bill Summary · SB 28

Legislative bill overview

SB 28 establishes standardized program requirements and oversight mechanisms for California's treatment courts, which are specialized judicial programs that address substance abuse and mental health issues as alternatives to traditional criminal prosecution. The bill aims to create consistent quality standards across different treatment court programs throughout the state.

Why is this important

Treatment courts have shown measurable success in reducing recidivism and addressing root causes of criminal behavior, but inconsistent standards across counties can result in disparate outcomes and program quality. Establishing statewide standards could improve accountability, ensure equitable access to treatment-focused justice options, and potentially reduce costs associated with incarceration while improving public safety outcomes.

Potential points of contention

  • Local autonomy vs. standardization: Counties may resist statewide mandates that limit their flexibility in designing programs tailored to local needs and resources
  • Funding implications: Implementing uniform standards could require additional state or local funding, raising questions about who bears implementation costs
  • Program eligibility criteria: Standardized requirements might exclude certain defendants or conditions, creating disputes over who qualifies for treatment-focused alternatives versus traditional prosecution

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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