Pubdate: Mon, 20 Apr 2015
Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL)
Copyright: 2015 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journalstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182
Author: Georgette Braun

LOW-LEVEL POT OFFENDERS IN ROCK RIVER VALLEY OFFERED TREATMENT INSTEAD 
OF JAIL

FREEPORT - While the Cook County state's attorney announced Monday that 
her office won't prosecute most misdemeanor marijuana cases, there's no 
such policy shift on the horizon for local prosecutors.

State's attorneys in Winnebago, Boone and Stephenson counties said they 
will continue to offer programs already in place for low-level pot 
offenders.

Anita Alvarez said in Chicago that she also will steer many facing 
felony drug charges into treatment rather than locking them up. The 
policy shift will save the county, that includes Chicago, the money it 
costs to keep offenders in jail, she said. Those facing low-level drug 
charges will be routed to treatment programs almost immediately after 
they are arrested, she said. And she added that by reducing the number 
of days people spend in jail, those arrested may be able to keep their 
jobs and homes that they could otherwise lose if they're locked up.

Joe Bruscato, Winnebago County state's attorney, said the county has had 
a diversionary program in place for about four years. It allows those 
arrested for possessing a small amount of marijuana to not be charged 
with a violation if they complete a six-week drug-treatment program 
through Rosecrance Health Network.

So far this year, 39 people have been sent to the Drug School Program at 
Rosecrance, said Katie Zimmerman, Alternative Justice & Outreach 
coordinator. Last year, Bruscato's office referred 95 individuals to the 
Saturday program, she said. All completed it last year, said Judy 
Emerson, director of communications for Rosecrance. Most were in the 
program for cannabis-related offenses, she said. Bruscato said if the 
program is completed, the offender is not charged.

Bruscato said prosecutors are looking at low-level pot offenses in a new 
light these days partly because of limited taxes and resources. And he 
said, "we're watching the evolution of how to approach cases" as 
Americans' attitudes toward marijuana use for medical and recreational 
purposes have shifted. Illinois is one of 24 states that allows 
marijuana to be used for medicinal purposes. Colorado, Washington, and 
Alaska allow recreational use.

Bruscato said Winnebago County's alternative justice programs do not 
deal with small amounts of drugs such as Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin. 
Instead, "traditional prosecution" for cases involving those drugs 
prevails, he said.

Michelle Courier, Boone County state's attorney, and Carl Larson, 
Stephenson County state's attorney, said their counties don't have 
diversion programs like Winnebago County. But they said the law already 
allows those charged with possessing small amounts of marijuana to have 
their record cleared of the charge. That's if they complete drug 
treatment and testing programs, as well as community service stints, and 
they stay out of trouble for two years. It applies for those who have 
been charged with possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana.

Larson said that the "penalty is pretty mild" for those with clean 
records charged for the first time with possessing a small amount of 
marijuana. "Anybody who doesn't have a significant record likely would 
receive court supervision and probably (costs of) less than $400 to 
$500," he said.

In 2012, Chicago adopted an ordinance allowing police to issue tickets 
of $250 to $500 for someone caught with up to 15 grams of pot. From 2013 
to 2014, police arrested 3,000 fewer people, opting for citations 
instead, Chicago police spokesman Martin Maloney said.

Jim Ryan, city administrator for Rockford, said he has not been involved 
in any discussions with the state's attorney's office about not 
prosecuting misdemeanor pot cases.
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