Watch LIVE: El Paso City Council considers ‘cite & release’ policy for marijuana offenders
JC Navarrete
Published 1:37 AM MDT
Updated 9:04 AM MDT
EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso City Council on Tuesday will be discussing the handling of those found in possession of marijuana.
Currently, the city operates with the "First Chance" policy that allows first offenders the opportunity to keep their records clean by paying a $100 fine and serving eight hours of community service.
On the council docket Tuesday is the opportunity to expand on that, or replace it with the "Cite and Release" proposition. The new proposition will also look to keep offenders out of jail, however a citation will be given to those who are found holding the drug.
"The person is not being immediately arrested and that of course if very beneficial to the police department because they are not losing hours waiting to book someone or process someone," said El Paso County Court Judge Ruben Morales.
However, District Attorney Jaime Esparza is not convinced that the "Cite and Release" proposition is necessary. Esparza is a big supporter of the "First Chance" policy and would rather the city continue to operate with it at the helm. Esparza also noted that the "First Chance" program is not a free ride to offenders.
"We will still hold you accountable. Judge Morales is incorrect, if you do not take advantage of the 'first chance' program we will get a warrant and go pick you up and make you accountable for the marijuana case," Esparza said.
Judge Morales sees a world where both programs could be used hand in hand to keep marijuana offenders out of jail, but held accountable.
"First chance program is for the people who have never been in trouble, who have clean records and are trying to help them keep those clean records. Cite and release is for the people that don’t qualify," Morales said.
Since the "First Chance" program was introduced it has had a 75% completion rate, with more than 480 first time offenders.
JC Navarrete
Published 1:37 AM MDT
Updated 9:04 AM MDT
EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso City Council on Tuesday will be discussing the handling of those found in possession of marijuana.
Currently, the city operates with the "First Chance" policy that allows first offenders the opportunity to keep their records clean by paying a $100 fine and serving eight hours of community service.
On the council docket Tuesday is the opportunity to expand on that, or replace it with the "Cite and Release" proposition. The new proposition will also look to keep offenders out of jail, however a citation will be given to those who are found holding the drug.
"The person is not being immediately arrested and that of course if very beneficial to the police department because they are not losing hours waiting to book someone or process someone," said El Paso County Court Judge Ruben Morales.
However, District Attorney Jaime Esparza is not convinced that the "Cite and Release" proposition is necessary. Esparza is a big supporter of the "First Chance" policy and would rather the city continue to operate with it at the helm. Esparza also noted that the "First Chance" program is not a free ride to offenders.
"We will still hold you accountable. Judge Morales is incorrect, if you do not take advantage of the 'first chance' program we will get a warrant and go pick you up and make you accountable for the marijuana case," Esparza said.
Judge Morales sees a world where both programs could be used hand in hand to keep marijuana offenders out of jail, but held accountable.
"First chance program is for the people who have never been in trouble, who have clean records and are trying to help them keep those clean records. Cite and release is for the people that don’t qualify," Morales said.
Since the "First Chance" program was introduced it has had a 75% completion rate, with more than 480 first time offenders.