Ticket vs. Arrest
I think an arrest sends an important message to an individual vs. a ticket. I also understand that overcrowding is an issue in some jails. I do not see an arrest as a waste of taxpayer's money since a violater of the law is removed from the streets (even temporarily).
Would requiring house arrest for these non-violent crimes be an effective solution?
What is your opinion?
News 8 Austin
Report: APD wastes taxpayers' money
7/22/2008 8:57 PM
Texas police departments have had the ability to write tickets instead of making arrests for certain non-violent crimes.
According to an Austin Public Safety Solutions report, the Austin Police Department is wasting Austin taxpayers' money.
"There's an easy solution, and it should've been done a long time ago," the Central Texas Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union President Debbie Russell said.
Since Sept. 1, 2007, APD – along with every other police department in Texas – has had the ability to write tickets, instead of arresting people for certain non-violent crimes such as the possession of small amounts of marijuana or driving without a valid license.
"A third of people in our jails now don't need to be there," Russell said.
The report says it cost APD about $5.4 million per year in lost time.
"They should've worked things out already. It should have been done and ready to go Sept. 1, 2007," Russell said.
But it wasn't, according to the report. Out of the 43,000 arrest made in 2007, almost 16,000 could have been taken care of with a ticket, instead of an arrest.
The problem, according to APD, is that their jurisdiction is extends into three counties.
"We're in Travis, we're in Williamson and we're in Hays. So we have three different court systems and sheriffs' booking facilities that our officers have to deal with. So we need a policy that will be effective in all three," Lt. Donald Baker, of APD, said.
According to APD, Chief Art Acevedo is working on a roundtable discussion with all three to see if things can be worked out.
"There's no reasons that we need to wait for other jurisdictions. There's one city, one chief, he makes one policy for his officers to follow," Russell said.
It's a policy that doesn't exist yet, and until it does, some say APD will continue to waste taxpayers' money.
Report: APD wastes taxpayers' money
7/22/2008 8:57 PM
Texas police departments have had the ability to write tickets instead of making arrests for certain non-violent crimes.
According to an Austin Public Safety Solutions report, the Austin Police Department is wasting Austin taxpayers' money.
"There's an easy solution, and it should've been done a long time ago," the Central Texas Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union President Debbie Russell said.
Since Sept. 1, 2007, APD – along with every other police department in Texas – has had the ability to write tickets, instead of arresting people for certain non-violent crimes such as the possession of small amounts of marijuana or driving without a valid license.
"A third of people in our jails now don't need to be there," Russell said.
The report says it cost APD about $5.4 million per year in lost time.
"They should've worked things out already. It should have been done and ready to go Sept. 1, 2007," Russell said.
But it wasn't, according to the report. Out of the 43,000 arrest made in 2007, almost 16,000 could have been taken care of with a ticket, instead of an arrest.
The problem, according to APD, is that their jurisdiction is extends into three counties.
"We're in Travis, we're in Williamson and we're in Hays. So we have three different court systems and sheriffs' booking facilities that our officers have to deal with. So we need a policy that will be effective in all three," Lt. Donald Baker, of APD, said.
According to APD, Chief Art Acevedo is working on a roundtable discussion with all three to see if things can be worked out.
"There's no reasons that we need to wait for other jurisdictions. There's one city, one chief, he makes one policy for his officers to follow," Russell said.
It's a policy that doesn't exist yet, and until it does, some say APD will continue to waste taxpayers' money.
Would requiring house arrest for these non-violent crimes be an effective solution?
What is your opinion?
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