Despite change in law, arrests more likely than fine (Chicago)

[RainDog]

Study: Despite new law, pot arrests still likelier than fines

Despite enacting legislation that is supposed to decriminalize carrying small amounts of marijuana, the city of Chicago and state of Illinois continue to have a high number of arrests related to the drug, a new university study has found.

In addition, because different municipalities have different laws and policies, the way the cases are handled is inconsistent and unfair, researchers said.

Arrests for the violation are down, but about 93 percent of misdemeanor marijuana possession violations resulted in arrest in Chicago, according to an analysis conducted by Roosevelt University's Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy.

That means that instead of issuing tickets and fines — considered an easier and more efficient process — police chose to take people to jail, said Kathleen Kane-Willis, the lead author of the study.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. It would be interesting to see the racial/ethnic breakdown

on who goes to jail, who gets fined.

Any bets?

[RainDog]

2. The Chicago Reader noted

after "stop and frisk" policies were supposedly amended to account for the disparity in arrests - police were still routinely stopping more Af/Am than any other group.

Fits and starts and stops on this issue.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Can't say I'm surprised.

[mopinko]

4. just to keep it real

i do not approve of the war on drugs. i wish it would end tomorrow.
but it is a fact that folks are shooting at each other here in chicago over who owns which corners. just a sad fact.
there is no anti-loitering laws any more, so the only thing left to break up the gangbangers is to crack them for their weed.
from what i know, if there are multiple petty offenses, loud music being a fave, they will crack you. they think its their job to take them in and let them sit in jail a while, knowing the judge will toss it out.

the chicago cops are bigots, and since there is no problem whatsoever seeing which cops are still writing these tickets, it is really time for a head or 2 to roll.
cops are a big issue in my ward. we have plenty of trouble, but are a far, far left area.

i think that we will be pressing the mayor on this issue in the upcoming election if he doesnt move on it before then
tho he might.