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    The study, prepared by the Justice Policy Institute in Washington, echoes another report released by UCLA earlier this month that also touted huge taxpayer savings through doing away with prison sentences in favor of treatment. That report said the program, which was passed by voters in 2000 as Proposition 36, saved California $173 million in its first year and $2.50 for every dollar invested since then.

    The Wednesday report by the left-leaning Justice Policy Institute, which seeks alternatives to incarceration, said the rate of imprisonment for drug possession offenses has decreased by more than 34 percent. It also said that dire predictions of a rise in violent crime with the passage of Proposition 36 were unfounded.

    ‘‘It really helps to put a context to the debate,’’ said Jason Ziedenberg, the executive director of the Justice Policy Institute. ‘‘I think people need to understand how many people were in prison in 2000 as opposed to how many there are today and that there has been progress.’’

    The release of the two reports comes at a critical juncture for supporters who contend that the $120 million earmarked for Proposition 36 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when funding runs out this summer is not enough money.

    They contend that, because of inflation and an increase in costs for services, the money does not stretch far enough.

    ‘‘It really needs to be at $209 million just to be barebones adequate,’’ said Margaret Dooley, statewide coordinator with the Drug Policy Alliance, which is seeking an increase in funding for the program. She said she and others would go to the capital later this month to drum up support for the additional funding, which she believed would be forthcoming because lawmakers would be unable to find any downsides.

    She also said she was confident of support from the more than 60,000 people arrested but kept out of prisons and jails because of Proposition 36.

    Scott Ehlers, a co-author of the Justice Policy Institute report, said he and others believe that the next goal should be to expand the reach of Proposition 36 to include those arrested for non-violent crimes related to drug abuse.