Chicago Sees Value of Coordinated Criminal Justice Approach
The marijuana ordinance to be voted on next week represents a remarkable step toward a coordinated criminal justice system. The proposed ordinance would reduce the penalty for small amounts of marijuana possession from a $1500 fine and up to 6 months in jail to a ticket in the amount of $100 to $500 for people carrying 15 grams (about 1/2 oz) of marijuana.
Mayor Emmanuel hit the nail on the head when he explained his support for the ordinance. The Chicago Tribune reported:
“The mayor said it took him time to get comfortable with the pot ticket idea, but after his administration studied and analyzed the issue, he reached the conclusion that police time and resources were being wasted to pursue low-level marijuana possession cases which often get thrown out of court.”
The key phrase is “which often get thrown out of court.” This is a breath of fresh air to those of us advocating for a more coordinated approach to setting criminal justice policy. Because criminal justice institutions are highly interdependent, the most effective and cost-effective policies can only be developed with coordination among public safety leaders.
If cases are routinely thrown out by either the Assistant State’s Attorney or the judge, Chicago is finally saying, then why keep throwing them back?