Whitestone–Marijuana arrests have declined more than 60 percent since the city instituted a policy of not arresting most of those found to have 25 grams or less of the drug, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.
"In the two full weeks since the policy was implemented, low level marijuana arrests are down more than 60 percent," de Blasio said at the police academy in Queens during a press conference about police body cameras.
The mayor has pitched the new policy as a way to reduce discriminatory policing of mostly black and Latino men.
Instead of being arrested and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, most people caught with 25 grams or less of the drug will be issued a ticket that is answerable in the city's summons courts. Fines range from $100 to $250
"Too many New Yorkers without any prior convictions have been arrested for low-level marijuana possession. Black and Latino communities have been disproportionately affected. There have been, in some cases, disastrous consequences for individuals and families," de Blasio said at a Nov. 10 press conference to announce the change.
The city's five district attorneys have expressed concern about how the policy will work, saying that it could lead to a further clogging of the city's already packed summons courts.
"The concerns were how was it going to work out now procedurally," Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said last month after a meeting with de Blasio at City Hall.
"People going to one summonses court, how many cases will that be a day? If someone doesn't appear will a warrant be issued for their arrest?" added Donovan who is in favor of the policy.
Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres has said the marijuana policy shift does not go far enough. He said the policy will replace "racially discriminatory arrests with racially discriminatory summonses."
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Source: Breaking News, Local Neighborhood News - DNAinfo.com New York
Author: Jeff Mays and Katie Honan
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Website: Marijuana Arrests Down 60 Percent Since New Policy, Says Mayor - Whitestone - DNAinfo.com New York
"In the two full weeks since the policy was implemented, low level marijuana arrests are down more than 60 percent," de Blasio said at the police academy in Queens during a press conference about police body cameras.
The mayor has pitched the new policy as a way to reduce discriminatory policing of mostly black and Latino men.
Instead of being arrested and charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, most people caught with 25 grams or less of the drug will be issued a ticket that is answerable in the city's summons courts. Fines range from $100 to $250
"Too many New Yorkers without any prior convictions have been arrested for low-level marijuana possession. Black and Latino communities have been disproportionately affected. There have been, in some cases, disastrous consequences for individuals and families," de Blasio said at a Nov. 10 press conference to announce the change.
The city's five district attorneys have expressed concern about how the policy will work, saying that it could lead to a further clogging of the city's already packed summons courts.
"The concerns were how was it going to work out now procedurally," Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said last month after a meeting with de Blasio at City Hall.
"People going to one summonses court, how many cases will that be a day? If someone doesn't appear will a warrant be issued for their arrest?" added Donovan who is in favor of the policy.
Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres has said the marijuana policy shift does not go far enough. He said the policy will replace "racially discriminatory arrests with racially discriminatory summonses."
News Moderator: Shandar @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Breaking News, Local Neighborhood News - DNAinfo.com New York
Author: Jeff Mays and Katie Honan
Contact: Contact Us - About Us - DNAinfo.com New York
Website: Marijuana Arrests Down 60 Percent Since New Policy, Says Mayor - Whitestone - DNAinfo.com New York
