NYPD Will Issue Summons Instead Of Making Arrest For Minor Marijuana Offenses
I say thanks to Brooklyn DA, Kenneth Thompson and Mayor De Blasio for reducing the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Brooklyn DA, Kenneth Thompson declared in July that he had no intention of prosecuting people for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Mayor Di Blasio also campaigned on reforming the NYPD’s marijuana arrest policies.
The NYPD’s racist “Stop & Frisk” policy which unfairly targeted Black and Latino people would give the NYPD the opportunity to seize small amounts of marijuana. This would lead to the arrest of Black and Latino people and the arrest record would then be an obstacle to them finding employment.
Major Di Blasio offered a different solution. Instead of arresting anyone in possession of 25 grams and below of marijuana, the person would have to pay a summons of $100. NYC would still gain revenue but the Black and Latino citizens would no longer receive a criminal record for the possession of small amounts of marijuana. “A summons will not affect their future,” he said. “An arrest could.”
The new policy took effect on November 19, 2014. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said the policy change saves money on overtime and allows officers to focus on fighting other crimes. Really? If the Brooklyn DA didn’t say he would not prosecute these minor offenses and the Mayor didn’t keep his promise to change the NYPD’s policies, things would have been going on the same way. In the words of the late Bob Marley, “Don’t let them fool you!”
