Pubdate: Fri, 25 Dec 2015
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2015 The Dallas Morning News, Inc.
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Suzanne Wills

A BETTER ALTERNATIVE?

Re: "A Smarter Use of Time" Dallas should try citations over jail for 
pot," Dec.14 Editorials. According to FBI figures, national crime 
clearance rates in 2013 were abysmally low. In several cases in 
Dallas County in recent years, there were tragic consequences because 
officers did not respond quickly enough to calls.

Police officers lose several hours of availability while transporting 
and booking suspects for nonviolent crimes. Suspects spend an average 
of 10 days in jail at a cost of about $60 per day. Only three Texas 
counties have adopted the cite-and-summons option since 2007: Travis, 
Hays and Midland. In all three, authorities encourage officers to use it.

Cite-and-summons is not decriminalization. Citations cannot be 
resolved by paying a fine. The person cited must appear in court on a 
scheduled date or a warrant will be issued for his arrest. But the 
accused is unlikely to lose his job or his place in school because of 
time spent in jail. He may not have to hire an attorney.

The Texas cite-and-summons law is far from perfect, but it's a much 
better alternative.

Suzanne Wills,Dallas

Drug Policy Forum of Texas
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom