Court Opinion

ID: 9570307
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:22:14.649358+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:41.847245
License: Public Domain

GRODIN, J.
I concur in the judgment. I do not, however, fully accept the characterization of the issues adopted by the majority, nor do I join in the assumption that the principles applicable tó sentence and punishment are relevant to pretrial incarceration.
I fully agree with the majority and the dissenting opinion that chronic alcoholism is a serious social problem which the criminal justice system is *1140ill equipped to address and certainly is incapable of solving. I also agree that public inebriates, and persons believed to be such, do not benefit and in many cases suffer in a prosecutorial system that makes no effort to alleviate the causes which make violation of Penal Code section 647, subdivision (f) inevitable.
Nonetheless, I agree that the law is constitutional and that the validity of the statute is not called into question by the procedures through which it is implemented. Enjoining the enforcement of a valid penal statute to prevent abuses in pretrial detention of arrestees or in proceedings leading to the filing and disposition of charges is not an option available to the court. There is no finding in this case that the arrests for violation of section 647, subdivision (f) are pretextual or that the arresting officers intend or understand that there will be no actual prosecution. Nothing in this record suggests that the arresting officers play any role in the decision to prosecute or in the disposition of the charges.
The judgment of the trial court reflects great sensitivity both to the human problems associated with the arrest and incarceration of alcoholics and to the constitutional rights of the arrestees. I would affirm it in all respects, recognizing that the court has reserved jurisdiction and thus máy consider any additional evidence plaintiffs offer regarding the adequacy of medical screening and treatment for arrestees in county detention facilities. Nevertheless, because disposition of this matter requires the concurrence of at least four justices in the order remanding the cause for further proceedings, I concur in the judgment. (People v. Harris (1984) 36 Cal.3d 36, 71-72 [201 Cal.Rptr. 782, 679 P.2d 433], conc. opn. by Grodin, J.)
Lucas, J., concurred.