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"If Texas were a country, it would have the highest incarceration rate in the world
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by mabone | October 3, 2008 at 12:31 pm
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New Marijuana Law Could Save Texas Taxpayers Millions — If Authorities Use ItTue, Aug 28, 2007 1:58 pm
more: drug policy news, headline news source: mpp.org
AUSTIN, TEXAS — A new law taking effect Sept. 1 could save Texas taxpayers millions of dollars by allowing police officers to cite individuals found in possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, rather than go through the time-consuming arrest and booking procedure (often involving a night or more in jail) that costs approximately $2,000 per arrest.
"This law is good for Texas, because each marijuana arrest costs Texas taxpayers $2,000, takes a police officer off the street for three to four hours, and fills a space in jail that should instead be used to house a violent criminal," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "By citing instead of arresting marijuana users, Texas will now be safer."
Marijuana possession arrests make up between 6 and 7 percent of all Texas arrests. It has been estimated that each of the state's five largest cities could save over $1 million per year by taking advantage of the law, passed by the legislature as HB 2391. The measure also covers several other misdemeanor offenses, including driving with an invalid license, graffiti, and criminal mischief where the damage is less than $500. The law does not change penalties for marijuana possession or other offenses.
"If Texas were a country, it would have the highest incarceration rate in the world -- higher than even China and Russia," Kampia noted. "Incredibly, literally 1 percent of the entire population of Texas is currently behind bars."
At least one law enforcement official, Bexar County Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg, has already said he expects to ignore the new law, with arrests continuing as usual. That would be a mistake, Kampia said.
"Federal government statistics show no difference in marijuana use rates between states that arrest people for marijuana possession and those that don't," Kampia said. "Ignoring this sensible law will waste tax dollars for no good reason."
With more than 23,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.
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Texian (not verified)at 19:55 on October 4th, 2008
Having been born and lived, most of my life in TEXAS, I am now a Texas refugee.
Many good memories, from the ancient past but lotz of bad memories from what is and is to be.
Texas, I knew, is deed and never gonna come back.
The Texas Gooberment is a criminal operation.
Gooberment is afraid of real criminials. It is hard for folks to make the alleged, law, stand for them and theirs.
Mentally retarded children have been shot to death in their own front yards, by big brave attorney pimps, U know, cops. They killed a 10 year old boy, defending his home , with a small stick,
A friends wife was driving three girls home from school, one afternoon. My amigo, on a fluke, went home in the afternoon. On the side of I35 set his wifes' car with 3 deserted young girls, all alone, beside the San Antone hwy. Asking the girls, "Where is mamma", he was informed, Da Highway Patrolman, arrested mamma and took her to jail, leaving 3 minors sitting beside hwy 35 to San Antone.
Mom, wuz charged with Driving while intoxicated, put into the City County Attorney Jail, convicted, as charged, There is a 98% conviction rate. Mom was embarrassed about the incident and would not tell anyone. I found out about it a few months later.
Guess What, The Lady does not drink alcohol. Hummm ??? It is much safer to make innocents criminals, than expose onesself to real criminals.
Attorney friend asked me , if I knew how many Texians had been arrested last year, about 15 years back. "No idea" says I" but it seems cops are everywhere and cameras too." "1 out of every 17 were arrested last year, "my friend said. "Wow", says I, "with arrests like that, theres gonna be a lotta people with large crimminal records." "Guess, the prison industries, will be able to compete against China."
Two years later, the arrest rate went to, 1 out of 8. I often wunder why n when, da gooberment is gonna build a razor wire fence, all round texas n jis call it , a prison state.
Stolen from me, a large tractor trailer, a 20' boat, large diesel construction equipment, automobiles and more, without being able to file police reports and have any police types, even possibly , stumbling over some of the stolen stuff. Naw, in fact, a friend spoted the large truck in New Mexico, with a new tejas plate on it. Texas woud still not even take a report on the theft, so I could git the N.M. Policy Enforcers to pick it up for me. TX would not even tell me, who owned the new plate.
Had a couple oil leases stolen by Coastal Gas. DA Tejas Rail Road Commission had no records of the wells and fields. Interestin, huh ? Didn't nobody , carry um off, I don not think so, anyhow.
Had a state licensed car dealer, sell my car, thru a state licensed car auction, to another state licensed car dealer. The auction, gurantees a title of the sales. Hummm ?
Well, I got da title from the TEXAS corp. . U know what dat wuz/is worth ??? A lil wall paper. Itz on my wall so I do not forgit what a state title is worth. A couple months, after I sought help from the state of T. da buerocrat emailed me, wishing me luck. Somehow, I thought, they would ask me to pick up the car. Sillie me.
Adios Texas
at 19:56 on October 4th, 2008
Interesting story and comment
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cmoney (not verified)at 09:46 on July 2nd, 2009
At least one law enforcement official, Bexar County Assistant District Attorney Cliff Herberg, has already said he expects to ignore the new law, with arrests continuing as usual!
how can he just ignore the new law? why is this hypocrite still in office? i think whenever a local goverment official sys something like this he should be a. fired b.arrested for criminal irresponsibility and c.ran out of the area by locals.
why do lawmakers get to abuse our rights without fear of these things happening?