Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says she has started talking to police about stopping arrests on people on minor marijuana possession charges, including Chicago new top cop Garry McCarthy.
"It's pretty well known within the criminal justice system that the judges will dismiss those charges [involving] very modest amounts of illicit drugs," Preckwinkle said after yesterday's county board meeting. "I suggested to him that although the law is pretty clear that such possession is a violation of the law, that since the judges routinely and almost universally dismiss such low-level drug charges that the police might stop arresting people for this since it clogs up our jail and these people their cases will be dismissed out anyway."
Preckwinkle is making the suggestion as a means to reducing the prison population and instead using the money saved for education and drug treatment. It reportedly costs $142 to house a Cook County prisoner for one day.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: progressillinois.com
Author: Chicago Sun-Times
Copyright: Progressive Illinois LLC
Contact: Contact Us | Progress Illinois
Website: Cook County Officials Say Stop Arresting For Small Marijuana Possession
"It's pretty well known within the criminal justice system that the judges will dismiss those charges [involving] very modest amounts of illicit drugs," Preckwinkle said after yesterday's county board meeting. "I suggested to him that although the law is pretty clear that such possession is a violation of the law, that since the judges routinely and almost universally dismiss such low-level drug charges that the police might stop arresting people for this since it clogs up our jail and these people their cases will be dismissed out anyway."
Preckwinkle is making the suggestion as a means to reducing the prison population and instead using the money saved for education and drug treatment. It reportedly costs $142 to house a Cook County prisoner for one day.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: progressillinois.com
Author: Chicago Sun-Times
Copyright: Progressive Illinois LLC
Contact: Contact Us | Progress Illinois
Website: Cook County Officials Say Stop Arresting For Small Marijuana Possession
