SALEM, Ore. -- Ballot Measure 57 is an answer by the Oregon Legislature to Ballot Measure 61.

According to its ballot title, Measure 57 “increases sentences for drug trafficking, theft against elderly and specified repeat property and identity theft crimes; requires addiction treatment for certain offenders.”

The measure increases prison sentences for some crimes and sends criminals to prison earlier for others.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney, Gary Meabe helped write measure 57. He says the current system is broken.

"When you commit your first crime under the present system, your first felony, you get probation. Your second conviction, probation. For your third conviction the current law says you get probation. For your fourth conviction, for one of these felonies the current law says you get probation again. Finally when you get your fifth conviction for one of these felony property crimes the judge can ... but doesn’t have to ... send you to prison," said Meabe.

He says Measure 57 would change that, sending property crime and drug offense criminals to prison after their second felony conviction.

"I think people will both be held accountable -- they'll spend a little bit more time away from the law abiding public. And the other thing measure 57 does -- it provides in the measure for drug treatment. So for those people who claim they have a drug problem and claim they want it fixed...they'll have that opportunity," said Meabe.

 More: Measure 61 takes aim at property crime

Lawmakers wrote Measure 57 to compete with Measure 61. As part of the law, they declared that if both measures pass, the one with the most votes will take effect.