- --=====================_890158475==.ALT Pubdate: Sat, 20 Feb 2016 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2016 The Tribune Co. Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/submit/ Website: http://tbo.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Author: Christopher O'Donnell PROGRAM TO REDUCE KIDS' POT ARRESTS Pilot Study in Tampa Will Mean Citations for 20 Grams or Less TAMPA - While Tampa pushes ahead with civil citations for possession of small amounts of marijuana, a plan to give the same break to juveniles caught with the drug also is in the works. Under a planned yearlong pilot program, juveniles found in possession of small amounts of marijuana, 20 grams or less, no longer will be arrested but will instead be cited and required to attend a drug treatment program. Currently, juveniles arrested for possession are taken to a juvenile assessment center before being referred to drug court. Many cases end up with the offender ordered to enter a drug program. If they successfully complete that, charges are dropped. "There has been a push to find ways of addressing these low-level crimes committed by juveniles short of an arrest," said Michael Sinacore, chief assistant state attorney. "What we're working on is using the court to oversee treatment for these juveniles without the need for formal charges and an arrest." The pilot program, which would only apply to Tampa, is being developed by the state attorney's office along with the Tampa Police Department and court administration for the 13th Judicial Circuit. No date has been set for its launch. As with Tampa's proposed civil citation program for adults, the intent is to deter drug use without saddling an offender with an arrest record or putting them through the criminal justice system. Just over 650 juveniles were arrested in Hillsborough on misdemeanor drug possession charges in 2015, the highest total for the past three years. Even when offenders complete a drug treatment program and charges are dropped, getting arrest records expunged can be costly and time consuming. Some low-income families don't understand the ramifications of the arrest record and don't bother. "There has been an argument made that the mere arrest has detrimental effects on their future ability to obtain jobs and to be in the military and other complications," Sinacore said. Hillsborough County already has a citation program to keep juveniles from ending up with arrest records. It covers eight misdemeanors, including fighting, vandalizing property, shoplifting or continually disrupting school functions and events, but excludes possession of marijuana. Under the program, some 419 Hillsborough juveniles ended up with a citation instead of an arrest in the 12 months that ended in November, according to Florida Department of Juvenile Justice data. About 950 juveniles were arrested in the same period. State reports show that only 4 percent of offenders who end up with a citation offend again, versus 9 percent for juveniles who are arrested and put in diversion programs. "The schools and the courts agree that has been pretty successful," said Stephen Hegarty, Tampa Police Department spokesman. "We're proposing that it makes sense for 20 grams or less, too." An effort in 2014 to make misdemeanor possession of marijuana an offense eligible for civil citation across the county was opposed by State Attorney Mark Ober and Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee. Among their concerns were that the crime should be handled in drug court where offenders must undergo supervised treatment to get the charges reduced or dropped. In 2015, Ober said he had changed his mind and supports a citation program. Sinacore said officials hope to expand the program across Hillsborough if the pilot succeeds. "We will assess the success of the program and determine if we need to discuss it with other law enforcement agencies," he said. - --=====================_890158475==.ALT Newshawk: http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm & www.flcan.org
Pubdate: Sat, 20 Feb 2016
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Webpage: http://drugsense.org/url/rnoIjQGT
Copyright: 2016 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/submit/
Website: http://tbo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Christopher O'Donnell
PROGRAM TO REDUCE KIDS' POT ARRESTS
Pilot Study in Tampa Will Mean Citations for 20 Grams or Less
TAMPA - While Tampa pushes ahead with civil citations for possession of small amounts of marijuana, a plan to give the same break to juveniles caught with the drug also is in the works.
Under a planned yearlong pilot program, juveniles found in possession of small amounts of marijuana, 20 grams or less, no longer will be arrested but will instead be cited and required to attend a drug treatment program.
Currently, juveniles arrested for possession are taken to a juvenile assessment center before being referred to drug court.
Many cases end up with the offender ordered to enter a drug program. If they successfully complete that, charges are dropped.
"There has been a push to find ways of addressing these low-level crimes committed by juveniles short of an arrest," said Michael Sinacore, chief assistant state attorney. "What we're working on is using the court to oversee treatment for these juveniles without the need for formal charges and an arrest."
The pilot program, which would only apply to Tampa, is being developed by the state attorney's office along with the Tampa Police Department and court administration for the 13th Judicial Circuit. No date has been set for its launch.
As with Tampa's proposed civil citation program for adults, the intent is to deter drug use without saddling an offender with an arrest record or putting them through the criminal justice system.
Just over 650 juveniles were arrested in Hillsborough on misdemeanor drug possession charges in 2015, the highest total for the past three years.
Even when offenders complete a drug treatment program and charges are dropped, getting arrest records expunged can be costly and time consuming. Some low-income families don't understand the ramifications of the arrest record and don't bother.
"There has been an argument made that the mere arrest has detrimental effects on their future ability to obtain jobs and to be in the military and other complications," Sinacore said.
Hillsborough County already has a citation program to keep juveniles from ending up with arrest records. It covers eight misdemeanors, including fighting, vandalizing property, shoplifting or continually disrupting school functions and events, but excludes possession of marijuana.
Under the program, some 419 Hillsborough juveniles ended up with a citation instead of an arrest in the 12 months that ended in November, according to Florida Department of Juvenile Justice data. About 950 juveniles were arrested in the same period.
State reports show that only 4 percent of offenders who end up with a citation offend again, versus 9 percent for juveniles who are arrested and put in diversion programs.
"The schools and the courts agree that has been pretty successful," said Stephen Hegarty, Tampa Police Department spokesman. "We're proposing that it makes sense for 20 grams or less, too."
An effort in 2014 to make misdemeanor possession of marijuana an offense eligible for civil citation across the county was opposed by State Attorney Mark Ober and Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee. Among their concerns were that the crime should be handled in drug court where offenders must undergo supervised treatment to get the charges reduced or dropped. In 2015, Ober said he had changed his mind and supports a citation program.
Sinacore said officials hope to expand the program across Hillsborough if the pilot succeeds.
"We will assess the success of the program and determine if we need to discuss it with other law enforcement agencies," he said.
- --=====================_890158475==.ALT-- - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom