Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Making440,000MarijuanaPossessionArrests InNewYorkCity,20022012
#ofMarijuanaPossessionArrests
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126,210 125,958
#ofPoliceHours(Arrestsx2.5hours)
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98,033 79,813
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50,484
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44,111
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39,213
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39,156
31,925
29,752
27,944
2002
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OneMillionPoliceHours:Making440,000Marijuana
PossessionArrestsinNewYorkCity,20022012
________________________________________________________________________________ PoliceHours MembersoftheNewYorkCityCouncilandtheNewYorkStateLegislatureaskedusto determinehowmanyhoursNewYorkCitypoliceofficershavespentmakinghundredsof thousandsoflowestlevelmarijuanapossessionarrests.Thisisnecessarilyarangefromlower tohigherbecausethenumberofofficersinvolvedinasinglearrestvaries,andthetimeeach spendsvariesconsiderably. InourongoingresearchaboutmarijuanapossessionarrestsinNewYork, wehavefoundthata basicmisdemeanorarrestformarijuanapossessioninNewYorkCityvariedfromaminimumof twoorthreehoursforoneofficer,tofourorfivehoursorevenlongerformultipleofficers. Duringthistimetheofficersreturnedtothepolicestationwiththehandcuffedarresteesand bookedthem;theytookphotographsandfingerprints,gatheredotherinformationandwroteit up.Theysentthepersonaldatatobecheckedagainstthestate'scriminaldatabasesandoften waitedtoreceivethearrestees'criminalrecords,ifthedatabasesearchesfoundany.Arresting officersregularlytooksuspectstothecentralbookingjail,wereinterviewedbyassistantdistrict attorneys,andappearedincourt. Weusedtwoandahalfhoursasaminimumaverageamountoftimeoneofficerspendsmaking amarijuanapossessionarrest.Thisisaveryconservativeestimate.Wemultiplied2.5hoursby thenumberoflowestlevelmarijuanapossessionarrests(chargedunderNYSPenalLaw221.10) foreachyearsince2002whenMayorBloombergtookoffice. Thefrontcoverofthisreportshowsagraphwiththenumberofmarijuanaarrestsforeachyear from2002through2012.InthoseelevenyearstheNYPDmadeatotalof439,056possession onlyarrests.Multipliedbytwoandahalfhoursofpolicetimeperarrestthatequals1,097,640 hoursorapproximatelyonemillionhoursofpoliceofficertimetomake440,000marijuana possessionarrests.Thatistheequivalentofhaving31policeofficersworkingeighthoursaday, 365daysayear,for11years,makingonlymarijuanapossessionarrests. Doublingthetimetooneofficerforfivehours,ortwoofficersfortwoandhalfhourseach, equalstwomillionhoursofpolicetimetomakethe440,000arrests.Twoofficersforfivehours equalsfourmillionhoursofpolicetime.Thisdoesnotincludethetimespentbypolice supervisorsorbycorrections,court,andprosecutorstaff,northetimeofficersspentsearching forpeopletoarrest. Evenattheminimumofonemillionpoliceofficerhoursforthe440,000arrests,itisclearthat themarijuanaarrestshavetakenpoliceoffthestreetandawayfromothercrimefighting activitiesforasignificantamountoftime. CostofMarijuanaArrests Severalyearsago,inresponsetorequestsfrommembersoftheNewYorkCityCouncilandthe StateLegislature,weresearchedthecriminaljusticesystemcostsofNewYorkCity'smarijuana possessionarrests.Thequestionwas:HowmuchhaveNewYorktaxpayersbeenpayingto makethesearrests?InMarch,2011,wepresentedourfindingsinareport:"$75MillionAYear: 2 TheCostofNewYorkCity'sMarijuanaPossessionArrests." Itsprincipalfindingswere:
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1)Overthelast15years,asinglearrestformarijuanapossession,includingallpoliceandcourt expenses,hascostfrom$1,000to$2,000ormore,conservativelyestimated.Thiscoversall policetimeincludingovertimepayforarrestingofficersandsupervisors,allprearraignmentjail costsandallcourtandprosecutorexpenses. 2)In2010,NewYorkCityspent$75millionormorearrestingandjailingmostlyyoungpeople simplyforpossessingsmallamountsofmarijuana. 3)From1997through2010theNYPDmade536,000arrestsformarijuanapossession.Thishas costtaxpayers$500milliontoover$1billion. Thereportreceivedconsiderablemediacoverage;ourestimateswerealmostcertainlylowand haveneverbeencontested.TheeconomicscolumnistfortheNewYorkTimesdrewuponour research,andGovernorCuomocitedourfindingsinhisStateoftheStatereportin2013.Our reportsuggestedthattheNYPD'smarijuanapossessionarrestcrusadewasnotasensibleuseof valuablepoliceandcityresources. Responsestothe440,000MarijuanaPossessionArrests Inthenextsectionwehavearrangedexcerptsfromnumerousprominentpublicationsexposing NewYorkCity'smarijuanapossessionarrests.Theexcerptscoversixyearsinchronological orderwithahyperlinktoeacharticleintheendnotes.Asevenaquickreviewwillreveal,many journalists,editorialboards,publicofficials,lawenforcementprofessionals,andpublic advocateshavearticulatelyandofteneloquentlydrawnattentiontothearrestsandtheircosts, harmfulconsequences,wastefulness,andextremeracialbias.WeagreewithGovernorCuomo whosaidinhis2013StateoftheStateaddress:"Thesearrestsstigmatize,theycriminalize,they createapermanentrecord.It'snotfair,it'snotright,itmustend,anditmustendnow."
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ResponsesToNewYorkCity's440,000Marijuana PossessionArrests,20022012(andtoTheirCosts,
Wastefulness,Consequences,andRacialDisparities)
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3 BernardHarcourtandJensLudwig,UniversityofChicagoLawSchool,2007
WefindnogoodevidencethattheMPV[marijuanainpublicview]arrestsareassociatedwithreductions inseriousviolentorpropertycrimesinthecity.AsaresultNewYorkCitysmarijuanapolicingstrategy seemslikelytosimplydivertscarcepoliceresourcesawayfrommoreeffectiveapproachesthatresearch suggestsiscapableofreducingrealcrime.... Thispolicingstrategyfocusedonmisdemeanor[marijuanainpublicview]arrestsishavingexactlythe wrongeffectonseriouscrimeincreasingit,ratherthandecreasingit....[NewYorkCitys]experiment withmisdemeanor[marijuanainpublicview]arrestsalongwithalltheassociateddetentions, convictions,andadditionalincarcerationsrepresentsatremendouslyexpensivepolicingintervention.... [Themarijuanaarrestpolicy]hadasignificantdisparateimpactonAfricanAmericanandHispanic residents.Ourstudyfurthershowsthatthereisnogoodevidencethatitcontributedtocombating seriouscrimeinthecity.Ifanything,ithashadthereverseeffect.Asaresult,theNYPDpolicyof misdemeanorMPVarrestsrepresentsanextremelypoortradeoffofscarcelawenforcementresources.
HarryG.LevineandDeborahPetersonSmall,MarijuanaArrestCrusade,NYCLU,April2008
HarcourtandLudwigsstudyisinaccordwiththeobservationsofpatrolofficersweinterviewedinNew Yorkandothercities.Theseexperiencedpoliceofficerspointoutthatwhenofficersspendseveralhours arrestingandbookingteenagersandyoungadultssimplyforpossessingmarijuana,theyareoffthestreet unabletoengageinotherpolicework.Likewise,narcoticssquadssearchingforandarrestingpeople possessingsmallamountsofmarijuanaarenotavailableforothercrimefightingwork.Indescribing thesemarijuanaarrests,anumberofpoliceofficersusedexactlythesamephrase,callingthemawaste oftime.... InthisreportwerefertowhatishappeninginNewYorkCityasamarijuanaarrestcrusadetohighlight themassive,organized,evenrelentlesspursuitofthesearrestsundertwomayorsandthreepolice commissionersforovertenyears.Butthetermcrusadedoesnotcaptureotherimportantcharacteristics ofthesemarijuanapossessionarrestsincludingtheirracialbias,genderbias,costliness,andother harmfuleffectstoNewYorkCityandespeciallytoBlackandLatinoyoungpeopleandtheirfamilies. ItislongpasttimeforthepeopleofNewYorkCitytoknowaboutandaddresswhatitspolice departmentandcriminaljusticesystemhavebeendoinginthisandothermatters.Andothercitiesand countiesintheU.S.canlearnmuchfromNewYorksmarijuanapossessionarrestpolicyaboutwhatnot todo.
AnthonyV.Bouza,FormerChiefOfPoliceOfMinneapolis,FormerNYPDCommanderInThe Bronx,AuthorOfThePoliceMystique,May20085
NewYorkCityscurrentmarijuanaarrestsareexactlyanalogoustotheroundupofgaysinthe1950sand 1960sthatMayorLindsaystopped.Andtheoffensesrepresentexactlythesamelevelofrisktothe public.Makingmarijuanaarrestsapriorityisawasteofpoliceresourcesanddoesnotreducestreet violence.Illegal,trivial,meaninglessarrestsundermineconfidenceinthejusticesystemandcorruptthe enforcers.NewYorksmarijuanaarrestsarecounterproductive,aclassicmisapplicationofpolice resources.
NewYorkMagazine,MarcJacobson,"TheSplittingImageofPot,"Sept21,2009
Ontheonehand,marijuanaispracticallylegalmoremainstream,accessorized,andtakenforgranted thaneverbefore.Ontheother,kidsaregettingbustedinthecityinrecordnumbers.Guesswhichkids.
JimDwyer,NYTimes,"WhitesSmokePot,butBlacksAreArrested,"December22,2009
OutsideamusicclubonGreenwichStreetinSoHo,thebouncerssmokejointsastheycheckinthe arrivingcustomers.AyounggraphicartistroutinelystrollsthroughChelsea,jointinhand....ButtheSoHo bouncersandtheChelseagraphicartistdonthavemuchtoworryabout,atleastfromthepolice:they arewhite.Eventhoughsurveysshowtheyarepartofthedemographicgroupthatmakestheheaviestuse ofpot,whitepeopleinNewYorkaretheleastlikelytobearrestedforit.Lastyear,blackNewYorkers wereseventimesmorelikelythanwhitestobearrestedformarijuanapossessionandnomoreserious crime.Latinoswerefourtimesmorelikely.... ThehandfulofwhitepotsmokerswhodogetarrestedcanbefoundincourtonMondaysandTuesdays, whentheymustanswerticketstypicallyissuedforsmokingpotinapark.Therestoftheweekistakenup withblacksandLatinos,whoaremorelikelytohavespentanightinjailbeforecourt,saidEdward McCarthy,alawyerfortheLegalAidSociety. Someofthepoliceofficers,whoareatthestartoftheircareers,areapologeticwhentheymakethese arrests,Mr.McCarthysaid.Theysay,ifmylieutenantorsergeantwerenthere,Idletyougo.
CharlesBlow,"SmokeandHorrors,"NYTimesColumnist,Oct.22,2010
Thewarondrugsinthiscountryhasbecomeawarfocusedonmarijuana,onebeingwagedprimarily againstminoritiesandpromoted,fueledandfinancedprimarilybyDemocraticpoliticians.... YoungpoliceofficersarefunneledintolowincomeblackandHispanicneighborhoodswheretheyare encouragedtoaggressivelystopandfriskyoungmen.Andifyoulookforsomething,youllfindit.Sothey findsomeoftheseyoungpeoplewithsmallamountsofdrugs.Thentheseyoungpeoplearearrested.The officerswillgetexperienceprocessingarrestsandwilllikelygettofileovertime...andthepolicechiefswill getameasureofproductivityfromtheirofficers.Theyoungmenwhowerearrestedaresimplypawns. WhywouldDemocratssupportaprogramthathassuchadeleteriouseffectontheirmostloyal constituencies?Itis,inpart,callouspoliticalcalculus.Itsaneasyandrelativelycheapwayforthemto buyatoughoncrimebadgewhilesimultaneouslypleasingpoliceunions.Thefactthattheyareruining thelivesofhundredsofthousandsofblackandHispanicmenand,byextension,thecommunitiesthey belongtobarelyseemstoregister. ThisisoutrageousandimmoralandtheDemocratscomplicityisunconscionable,particularlyforaparty thatlikestopromoteitssocialjusticebonafides.Nooneknowsalltherepercussionsoflegalizing marijuana,butitisclearthatcriminalizingithasmadeitaliferuiningracialweapon.Whenwill politicianshavethecouragetostandup,acknowledgethisfactandstopallowingyoungminoritymento becollateraldamage.
JesseLevine,HuffingtonPost,"Bloomberg'sReeferMadness,"March15,2011 In2010NewYorkCityspent$75millionarrestingpeopleforpossessingsmallamountsofmarijuana.... Eacharrestcostsatleast$1,000to$2,000(conservativelyestimated),andin2010theNYPDmadenearly 1,000arrestsaweek.The50,383peoplearrestedformarijuanain2010wereallfingerprinted, photographed,andmostspent24hoursormoreinjail.Inallcases,marijuanapossessionwasthehighest chargeortheonlycharge. MayorBloomberghasfamouslyadmittedtosmokingmarijuanaandenjoyingit.YetonBloomberg's watchthepolicehavearrestedmorepeopleforpossessingmarijuanathanthelastthreemayors combined.SinceBloombergwaselectedin2002,theNYPDhasarrested350,000peopleforpossessing lessthan7/8ofanounceofmarijuanaatacosttotaxpayersof$500millionto$1billionormore. TheNYPDarrests50,000peopleayeartoconfiscate50,000jointsorsmallbagsandspends$75millionto doit.ItseemsfairtosaythatMichaelBloomberghascreatedhisveryownReeferMadness.
AilsaChang,WNYCNews,"AllegedIllegalSearchesbyNYPDMayBeIncreasingMarijuana Arrests,"April26,201110
Policearrest140peopleeverydayinNewYorkCityforpossessingsmallamountsofmarijuana.It'snow byfarthemostcommonmisdemeanorchargeinthecity,andthousandsofthesearreststakeplacewhen policestopandfriskyoungmeninthepoorestneighborhoods.Whilepolicesaythesestopandfrisksare awaytofindguns,whattheyfindmoreoftenisabagofmarijuana. AninvestigationbyWNYCsuggeststhatsomepoliceofficersmaybeviolatingpeoplesconstitutional rightswhentheyaremakingmarijuanaarrests.Currentandformercops,defenselawyersandmorethan adozenmenarrestedforthelowestlevelmarijuanapossessionsayillegalsearchestakeplaceduring stopandfrisks,whicharestreetencounterscarriedoutoverwhelminglyonblacksandLatinos. [AilsaChangwonaDupontAwardforherinvestigativereportingontheillegalsearchesinthemarijuana possessionarrests]
NewYorkObserver,ByAziPaybarah,"CriticsofMarijuanaArrestsMakeanEconomics Argument,"May5,201111
NewYorkCityCouncilmembersLetitiaJames,MelissaMarkViveritoandJumaaneWilliamsjoined protestersthismorningwhogatheredon5thAvenueand79thStreetthecornerwhereMayor BloombergstownhouseislocatedtoprotestthecitysrecordofarrestingmostlyAfricanAmerican andLatinopeopleforminordrugoffenses.Theytriedconnectingthecitysworseningeconomywiththe expensesthecityispayingtobustpeopleforrelativelylowlevelcriminality. MelissaMarkViverito:Duringthesetougheconomictimes,whenwearecontemplatingseverecutsto basicmunicipalandhumanservicesthe$75millionwespendonmarijuanaarrestseachyearshouldbe amongthefirstplaceswelookforsavings. JumaaneWilliams:Wewastedbetween$50$100millionalonelastyeararrestingindividualsforlow levelmarijuanaviolations,allatatimewheretheMayorproposescuttingessentialservicestoour childrenandseniors. LetitiaJames:Ouryouthalreadyhavetoworryaboutthelackofavailablejobs,whichisdifficult enough,thelastthingtheyneedistobevictimsofillegalsearches.
KristenGwynne,"IsNYCtheMarijuanaArrestCapitaloftheWorld?Alternet,May27,2011
MichaelBloomberghasmadeNewYorkCityTheMarijuanaArrestCapitoloftheWorldthroughhis supportofillegaltacticswhichallowcopstostopandfriskanyonetheyseefit.OnWednesday,May25,a broadcoalitionofsocialadvocacygroups,supportersandCityCouncilmemberscongregatedaroundthe cornerfromtheMayorsUpperEastSidetodeliverhimamockawardforhisefforts.... OrganizerscalledoutBloombergshypocrisy,notingthatwhenBloombergranforMayorin2001,he admittedtohavingsmokedandenjoyedmarijuana,butcontinuestosupportusingloopholesinthestop andfrisklawtoorchestratemassarrestsofyoungpeopleofcolorforsmallamountsofmarijuana. UnderMayorBloomberg,marijuanaarrestshavesurpassedthoseunderMayorsKoch,Dinkins,and Giulianicombined.Despiteatightbudgetandthestrippingoffederallyfundedsocialprogramsand education,thecitypumped$75millionintoarrestingmorethan50,000peopleforsmallamountsof marijuanalastyear. SpokesmanfortheDrugPolicyAllianceTonyNewmancalledthearrestsanumbersgamethatallows officerstoclockinovertimeandmakeeasy,lowlevelarreststoaddtothewarondrugstatistics.
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JimDwyer,"SideEffectsofArrestsforMarijuana,"NYTimes,June16,2011
Onaveragelastyear,someonewasarrestedevery10minutesinNewYorkCityforpossessingafew pinchesofmarijuanalessthan25gramsandnoothercrime.Morearrests,50,383,weremadein 2010onthischargethanonanyother,andarrestsarebeingmadeatanevenfasterpacethisyear. "Theyrecloggingthecourtsandruiningpeopleslives,intermsofpotentialcollateralconsequencesfor housing,employment,immigration,"saidStevenBanks,theattorneyinchiefoftheLegalAidSociety, whichrepresented30,000peopleinminormarijuanacaseslastyear.... TestingoftenshowedmarijuanaintheurineofpeoplearrestedinNewYorkCity,[anaidtoMayor Bloomberg]said:"Thedatashowsaninextricablelinkbetweendrugsandcrime,andmarijuanaisthe mostprevalentdrugusedbycriminals."Wouldntthosesameurinetests,conductednotinjailsbutin betteroffneighborhoods,showinextricablelinksbetweenpotandbankingorthelaworacademia? Orevenpolitics.
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NewYorkDailyNewsEditorial,Sept.29,2011
Inanalltootypicalsituation,copsstopayoungmanforquestioningandpossiblysubjecthimtoafrisk. Whentheyaskhimtoemptyhispockets,heproducesasmallbagofmarijuana.Copsbusthimforthe misdemeanoroffenseofpossessinglessthan25gramsofthedruginpublicview.Theinjusticeisobvious. Thesubjectinquestionbroughtthepotintopublicview,committingthemisdemeanor,onlybecausehe hadbeenorderedtodosobythepolice.Otherwise,hewouldhavebeenguiltyonlyofanoncriminal possessionviolation,meritingtheequivalentofatrafficticket....Thedepartmentmakessome50,000 arrestsforpotpossessionannually,anunknownnumberofwhichhappenafterpoliceorderpeopleto revealwhattheyarecarryingontheirpersons.
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StevenThrasher,TheVillageVoice,Sept21,2011
Theprospectthat"youngmenofcolor,whoarehyperpolicedinthiscity"areactuallywalkingaroundin largegroupssmokingpotinopenviewisabsurd.Soisthenotionthatpoorblackmalessmokepotmore thanricher,palermenandwomen.Butstill,theygetdisproportionatelyarrestedbecause,underMayor BloombergandPoliceCommissionerRayKelly,theNYPDusescontroversialUF250s"stopandfrisks" onthematarecordsettingpace.... "I'mapoliceofficer,Icomeuptoyou,"[Cassandra]Frederiqueexplainsasifshewereacopapproaching ayoungmaninEastNewYork."'Whatareyoudoing?What'sinyourpockets?Pullitout.'Onceyoupull itout,itbecomes'marijuanainplainview.'Andthat'swhentheyarrestyou."
StevenWishnia,Alternet,Dec30,2011
Tobeprosecutedformarijuanainpublicview,explainsOdalysAlonzo,chiefassistanttoBronxDistrict AttorneyRobertJohnson,thedefendanthastobeobservedeithersmokinginpublicordisplayinga glassineorplasticpackagethatpolicerecognizeasmarijuana.Sometimes,weseethreepeoplecharged foronejoint,becauseweveseenthempassingajoint,shesays.... ThebiggestchangesinceKellysannouncement,[Scott]Levy[oftheBronxDefenders]suspects,maybein howcomplaintsarephrased.Police,hesays,areincreasinglyreportingthattheysawadefendanttake anobjectandputitintheirpocketandthenfoundittobemarijuanawhentheysearchedthem,but ourclientsaresayingthattheyneverhaditout. JoshuaSaunders,astaffattorneyattheBrooklynDefendersSociety,anotherpublicdefendergroup,says hesseenalotofdropsycases,inwhichpolicesaytheysawthedefendantdropthemarijuanaonthe ground.HepointsoutthepolicereportofamanbustedforthreebagsofpotintheBrownsville neighborhoodinNovember.Itsaystheofficerobservedthemanonthesidewalkinfrontofabodegain possessionofaquantityofmarihuanawhichwasopentopublicviewandwhichinformantrecovered fromdefendantspantspocket.Saunderswondersifthemanhadtransparentpants.
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JenniferPeltz,AssociatedPress,Feb.1,2012
"Ourclientsarestillregularlystopped,searched,andmarijuanaisrecoveredfromtheirpocket,butatno pointwheretheyhavingitout,smokingit,"[ScottD.LevyoftheBronxDefenders]said.Butmosttakea dismissaldealorpleadguiltytoaviolation,ratherthandemandahearingthatgenerallycomesafter monthsofcourtdatesandprolongsacasethatcancompromisejobprospects,hesaid."Sothevast majorityofcasesarepleadingoutbeforeahearingiseverheldandtheseissuesarereallyaired,"Levy said.... "NewYorkremainsinafiscalcrisis,andwesimplycannotaffordtoarresttensofthousandsofotherwise lawabidingcitizensforpossessingsmallamountsofmarijuanaespeciallywhensomanyofthesearrests aretheresultofillegalsearchesorfalsecharges,"Sen.MarkGrisantisaidinastatementWednesday.The Republican,who'sacriminaldefenselawyer,issponsoringtheproposalwithDemocraticAssemblyman HakeemJeffries. It'sdifficulttoputapricetagonthecity'sarrests,butLevinehasestimateditcostanestimated$75 millionin2011toprocess,jailandprosecutethelowlevelarrestsinNewYork.Thatfigurewasa compilationofestimatedcourtcosts,policemanpowerandjailtime,averagingabout$1,500perarrest acostsharedbythestateandcity. 18 gabrielsayegh,Alternet.Feb.4,2012 SinceMichaelBloombergbecamemayoradecadeago,theNYPDhasmademorethan400,000lowest levelmarijuanapossessionarrestsatacostof$600milliondollars.Nearly350,000ofthosearrestedfor marijuanapossessionunderBloombergareyoungBlackandLatinomeneventhoughyoungwhitesuse marijuanaathigherrates. ItisworthrememberingandpointingoutthatU.S.governmentstudiesconsistentlyfindthatyoung whitesusemarijuanaathigherratesthanyoungBlacksandLatinos,saidQueensCollegeprofessorHarry Levine.Butthepolicepatrols,stopandfrisks,andarrestquotasarehighestinBlackandLatino neighborhoods,andthatiswheretheNYPDmakesmostmarijuanapossessionarrests.MayorBloomberg isliketheEnergizerbunnyofmarijuanaarrestshejustkeepsgoingandgoingandgoing.
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AliceBrennanandMichaelKeller,NewYorkWorldMarch30,2012
SixmonthsafterNewYorkCityPoliceCommissionerRayKellyorderedallpoliceofficersunderhis commandtoceasearrestingpeoplecarryingmarijuana,manyarestillbeinghandcuffedandsenttojail afterofficerscoerceortrickthemintodisplayingthedrug.Thatstheconclusionofaclosereviewof517 casesbyBronxDefenders,acriminaldefenseandlegaladvocacyorganization,whichfoundthatnearly halfofthosepickedupforsmallamountsofmarijuanapossessioninrecentmonthswerenotdisplaying thedrugbeforetheywerestopped.ScottLevy,anattorneyattheBronxDefenders,thelegaland advocacyorganizationthatledthesurvey,said:Thisisclearlyanillegalpractice"....
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BrentStaples,NYTimesEditorialBoard,"TheHumanCostofZeroTolerance,"April18,2012
Millionsofpeoplehavebeenarrestedunderthepolicyforminorviolations,likepossessionofsmall amountsofmarijuana.Andonethingisbeyonddispute:thisarrestfirstpolicyhasfilledthecourtsto burstingwithfirsttime,minoroffenderswhodonotbelongthereandwreakedhavocwithpeopleslives. Evenwhencasesaredismissed,peoplecanbeshadowedforyearsbyerrorriddencriminalrecords.... NewYorkCitysoverlyzealousmarijuanaarrests,coupledwiththeunreliabilityandporousnessof recordkeeping,damagethelivesoftensofthousandsofpeopleayear.TheLegislatureneedstofixthis. Itmustdropthepublicdisplaydistinctionformarijuana,whichinvitesfartoomanyabuses.Itshouldalso presslawenforcementofficialsandthecourtsystemtomakesurethatcriminalrecordsaremore accuratetostartwithandthatpeoplewhoarevictimizedbyerrorshaveaplausiblewayofgettingthem corrected.Employersandgovernmentagenciesalsohavearesponsibilityhere.Theymustnotrushto theirownjudgmentaboutminoroffenders.... Thepoliceneedtospendmoretimetrackingdownseriouscrimeandlessonminoroffenses.Thereis nothingminoraboutarecordthatcanfollowpeoplefortherestoftheirlives.
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ManhattanDistrictAttorneyCyrusVance,MarijuanaLawReformTestimony,June4,2012
Halfoftheseindividuals[chargedwithopentopublicviewcriminalpossessionofmarijuanain Manhattan]hadneverbeenarrestedbefore,andapproximately46percentwere16to24yearsofage. Manyofthesedefendantswereheldinjailbeforetheywerearraignedbeforeajudge,acold introductiontothecriminaljusticesystem.... Thehumancoststoeachoneofthosepeopleandtheirfamiliesisserious,anditisreal.Itcouldaffectan individualsabilitytosecureajoborreceiveadmissionintoanacademicortrainingprogram.The consequencesofthiscanbedevastatingforayoungmanorwomanstartingoutinlife.Itcanalsoimpose afinancialburdenonsomeoneforcedtomissdaysofworktoappearincourt. Furthermore,thedrainofresourcesinourofficeandtheNYPDtoprocessthose...casesissignificant.The proposedlawwillallowustoredirectresourcesawayfromprocessingpeoplechargedwithsimplelow levelpossessionofmarijuanaandusethosevaluableresourcestofightviolentcrimes,tomakeallofour communitiessafer.Thisisjustanapplicationofcommonsenseandfundamentalfairness.
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GovernorCuomo,PressConference,Albany,June4,2012
SpeakerSilverandtheAssemblythatorchestratedaconversationandtheroundtablestoheightenthe attentiononthisissue.TheDistrictAttorneys,CyVanceandalltheNewYorkCitydistrictattorneys... RichardBrown,JoeHines,DanDonovancouldntbewithustodaybuttheyalsosupportthisproposal.I wanttothankMayorBloombergforhissupport;PBApresidentPatLynchalsosupportsit,aswellasthe DrugPolicyAlliance,NYCLU,LegalActionCenter,BarAssociationandBronxDefenders.Iamhopefulfor passage.
NewYorkTimesEditorial,June4,2012
Publicdefendershaverepeatedlychargedthatthepoliceareentrappingyoungpeople,stoppingthemfor nocauseandthenrequiringthemtoemptytheirpocketstobringtheirmarijuanaintopublicview.And formerpoliceofficersnowspeakopenlyofbeingpressuredtodriveuptheirarrestrates.... TheLegislatureshouldtakeupMr.Cuomosproposalandpassitswiftly.Peoplewithminorconvictions canbedeniedpublichousingandfederalstudentaidandwrittenoffbyprospectiveemployers.The numbersforthestopandfriskprogramareevenmoredisturbing700,000lastyear,about85percent ofthoseinvolvingblacksandHispanics,whomakeupabouthalfthecityspopulation.Decriminalizing publicpossessionofsmallamountsofmarijuanawilladdressonlypartofthatproblem.Forthesakeof fairnessandpublicsafety,thestopandfriskprogram,whichbreedsfearanddistrustofthepolicein minorityneighborhoods,mustbereformed.
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AilsaChang,PoliceDesk,WNYC,June5,2012
TheWNYCinvestigationfoundtheproblemwasn'tthatmarijuanawasagainstthelawitwashowthe policewereallegedlycarryingoutthelaw.Morethanadozenmenfromthemostheavilypoliced precinctstoldWNYCtheywerearrestedfordisplayingmarijuanainpublicviewwhentheirmarijuana wasactuallyhiddenintheirclothes.Theyclaimedduringastopandfrisk,policeeitherorderedthemto emptytheirpocketsorpulledthemarijuanaoutthemselvesbeforearrestingthem. CuomotouchedontheissueatMondaysannouncement."Ifyoupossessmarijuanaprivatelyitsa violation,ifyoushowitinpublicitsacrime,"Cuomosaid."Itsincongruous,itsinconsistentthewayits beenenforced."
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BillHammond,NewYorkDailyNewsColumnist,June5,2012
Cuomosplantodecriminalizepublicpossessionofsmallamountsofpotistheoppositeofdopey.Its smartpolicyandsmartpoliticsatthesametime.ThefactthattheNYPDarrestsmorethan50,000people ayearfordoingsomethingthatpracticallyeveryoneundertheageof60hasatleasttriedandknows fullwelltobenomoredangerousthanalcohol,andprobablylesssoisbeyondridiculous.... Cuomohimselfhasacknowledgedsmokingmarijuana'inmyyouth.'Whenaskedduringhisfirstmayoral campaignifhehadtriedpot,Bloombergsaid:'YoubetIdid.AndIenjoyedit.'Accordingtoanew biographyofPresidentObamabyDavidMaraniss,thefutureleaderofthefreeworldandhisfriends madeapointofclosingthecarwindowswhentheytokedup,sotheycouldtilttheirheadsbackandtake 'roofhits'whenthejointwasfinished.Yetnoneoftheselawbreakerswascaught.Sononegotturned downforajoborforfeitedastudentloanor,mosttragicallyofall,lostcustodyoftheirchildrenallof whichcananddohappentothemostlyyoung,mostlyblackandbrownNewYorkerssweptupinthe citysmoderndayreefermadness. CompoundingtheinjusticeisthefactthatNewYorksupposedlydecriminalizedmarijuana35yearsago whentheLegislaturedowngradedprivatepossessionofupto25grams,or7/8ofanounce,toamere violation,theequivalentofatrafficticket.Arrestingpeopleoverpot'needlesslyscarsthousandsoflives andwastesmillionsofdollarsinlawenforcementresources,whiledetractingfromtheprosecutionof seriouscrime,'lawmakersdeclaredatthetime....Cuomoisachievingaprogressivegoalinawaythat getsgovernmentoutofpeopleslives.Ourcaloriecountingmayorcouldlearnathingortwo."
HeatherMacDonald,ManhattanInstituteandCityJournal,June7,2012
Losingtheopportunitytomakearrestsforpublicpossessionofsmallamountsofmarijuanaisworththe demolitionofoneofthemoreubiquitouscanardsagainstthestopandfriskprogramthatitisbeing deliberatelyabusedtoarrestminorities.AndthedecriminalizationlawmayevenimprovetheNYPDs abilitytopolicehighcrimeareas....Thetimeofficerssavebynothavingtogotocourtforanarrestcould increasepatrolpresenceonthestreetandfreethemupforadditionalenforcementactivity.
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WendyRuderman&JosephGoldstein,PoliceReporters,NewYorkTimes,June22,2012
LegalAidlawyersbroughtthesuitonbehalfoffiveNewYorkerswho,theysay,werevictimsof"gotcha" policetactics.ThefivemenwereallarrestedsincemidApril,fourinBrooklynandoneonStatenIsland; theywerechargedwithmisdemeanorpossessionaftersmallamountsofmarijuanawerefoundonthem duringpolicestops.Ineachcase,themarijuanabecamevisibleonlyafterofficerssearchedthemenor askedthemtoemptytheirpockets,thesuitsays."ThesefiveindividualsareNewYorkerswhowere essentiallyvictimizedbyunlawfulpolicepractices," Mr.Bankssaid."Thelawsuitisaimedatstoppingaperniciouspolicepractice,whichisharming thousandsofNewYorkersayearandcloggingupthecourtsystemwithoneoutofsevencriminalcases anddivertingresourcesandattentionfrommoreseriouscriminalmatters."
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FormerMayorEdKoch,HuffingtonPost,June26,2012
AgreatinjusticeisbeingperpetratedbymembersoftheNewYorkCityPoliceDepartmentonthepeople ofthiscity....Iurgeallfivedistrictattorneystopubliclystatethattheywillnotprosecuteanyonecharged withmarijuanapossessionforpersonaluseotherthanforaviolation. Thehideouspartofallofthisisthatstudiesshowthatwhitesarethegreaterusersofmarijuana,not blacksorHispanics.ItisblackandHispanicyouthswhoarebeingarrestedandendupwithcriminal records,destroyingmanyoftheiralreadylimitedopportunitiesforgettingjobsandachievingabetter life.Thisisunacceptableinasocietythatbelievesitisdevotedtojusticeandfairness.
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EduardPorter,EconomicsandBusinessColumnist,NewYorkTimes,July3,2012
Processingeachoftheroughly85,000arrestsfordrugmisdemeanorsinNewYorkCitylastyearcostthe city$1,500to$2,000.Andthatisjustthecosttothebudget.HundredsofthousandsofAmericans,mostly blackandpoor,areunabletogetajob,acreditcardorevenanapartmenttorentbecauseofthelasting stigmaofacriminalrecordforcarryinganounceofmarijuana.
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NewYorkTimesEditorial,"AnIneffectiveWayToFightCrime,"Nov.22,2012
AlawsuitfiledbytheLegalAidSocietyinJuneandpendinginstatecourtmakesthecasethatthepolice arestillarrestingpeopleillegallyinclearviolationofboththecommissionersdirectiveandthestatelaw. Morethan50,000possessionarrestsweremadelastyear.... NowanewstudybyHumanRightsWatchfurtherdebunksthemainpremiseofNewYorkCitysbroken windowslawenforcementcampaign,whichholdsthatclampingdownonsmalloffenseslikesimple marijuanapossessionpreventsseriouscrimeandgetshardcorecriminalsoffthestreets.Thestudy trackedabout30,000peoplearrestedformarijuanapossessionin20034noneofwhomhadprior convictionsforperiodsofsixandahalftoeightandahalfyears.Thestudyfoundthataboutonly 1,000ofthemhadasubsequentviolentfelonyconviction.Somehadmisdemeanororfelonydrug convictions,butmorethan90percentofthestudygrouphadnofelonyconvictionswhatsoever. ThereportconcludedthatthePoliceDepartmentwassweepinglargenumbersofpeopleintoNewYork Cityscriminaljusticesystemparticularlyyoungpeopleofcolorwhodonotsubsequentlyengagein violentcrime.Thiswastesmillionsofdollarsandunfairlyputspeoplethroughthecriminalsystem....The LegislaturecouldgoalongwaytowardendingunfairprosecutionsbyadoptingGov.AndrewCuomos proposaltomakepublicdisplayofasmallamountofmarijuanaaviolation."
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BobGangi,"TheNYPD'squotasystemforcesofficerstocrackdownontheverypeoplethey aresupposedtoserveandprotect,"Alternet,Nov.30,201230
WhiletheharmfuleffectsoftheNYPDsstopandfrisktactichavereceivedthemostpublicattention,this practicedoesnotrepresentthemostseriousproblemwithcurrentpolicingpolicyinNYC.Itisnotthetrue darkheartofthebeast.Thathonorgoestoanagencywidequotasystemthatpolicebrassuseto evaluatetheperformancesofofficersonthestreetandthatdrivesaharsh,aggressiveapproachtolaw enforcement....EverydaytheCityspoliceengageinobjectionablepracticesthatwastegovernment resourcesandthatresultinmore,ratherthanless,socialdisorder. NYPDofficialsusetheterm"productivitygoals"asapoorlyveiledeuphemismfortheDepartment's quotasystem,asathincoverforthepressureplacedonstreetofficerstomakeanexpectednumberof arrests,ortoissueasufficientnumberofsummonses.Thedepartmentdeniesitsuseofsuchmeasures becausetheyareillegalunderstatelaw,alawwhich,oversixyearsago,astatearbitratorconcludedthat theNYPDhadviolated.... "IfIbreakupafightbetweentwoboysandsendthemhome,Idon'tgetcredit.IfIhelpdeliverababyin anemergency,Igetnocredit.ButIscorepointsifIissueaseatbeltsummonsorrecordtwostopand frisks"[saidoneofficer].... WhenaNYPDrepresentative,aprecinctcaptainorlieutenant,directsofficerstosatisfyspecificnumerical goalsregardingarrestsandsummonses,thendeploystheofficersinparticularneighborhoods...the
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IssaKohlerHausmann,NewYorkDailyNews,"PotArrestsAreAllAboutTheNumbers."Dec. 10,201231
NewYorkCitysmarijuanaexceptionalismhaslittletodowithcontributingtopublicsafety....Astudyby UniversityofChicagolawprofessorsshowedmarijuanaarrestswerenotassociatedwithdeclinesin violentcrime....Nordothesearreststargetseriouscriminals....AnewHumanRightsWatchreportshows themajorityofthecitysfirsttimemarijuanaarresteesin2003and2004werenotconvictedofanycrime bythesummerof2011.Lessthan3.5%wentontoviolentfelonyconvictions.... Ifthereisnoevidencethesearrestsenhancepublicsafetyandtopcityofficialspubliclydisavow supportingmassmarijuanaarrests,thenwhatcouldpossiblydrivemarijuanatobetheNo.1arrest chargeinthecityoverrecentyears?.... Thereismountingevidencethatpatrolofficersfeelpressuretoissuesummonsesandmakemisdemeanor arrestsjusttohittargets,irrespectiveofpublicsafetygoals....Withmorethan600,000streetstopsa year,marijuanapossessionisafairlyeasymisdemeanorarresttoturnup,whichiswhytherearesomany sucharrests.Theyserveonlytoburnishofficersnumbers,andlittleelse.Thepressuresofquantitative managementcanpushgoodcopstodobadthings,likemakingconstitutionallyquestionablearrestsor concentratingarrestactivityoncrimesthatdonotreflectourpublicsafetypriorities.
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EdithHonan,ReutersNewsService,Feb.14,2013
NewYorkCitypolicewillnolongerholdpeopleovernightforpossessingsmallamountsofmarijuana,and thecitywillbackastateefforttotreatthosecasesasviolationsinsteadofmisdemeanors,MayorMichael BloombergsaidonThursdayinhisfinalStateoftheCityaddress....Bloombergsaidheactednowsothat feweryoungmenwillbesaddledwithacriminalrecord.Healsosaiditwouldallowpolicetobetteruse resources....Evenso,theNewYorkCivilLibertiesUnionsaidNewYorkCityconductsmoremarijuana arreststhananyothercity.
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WallStreetJournal/AssociatedPress,February16,2013
Criticshavelongsaidthe[marijuanapossession]arrestsdolittleforpublicsafetybutinflictalotof personalharm.Nowsomeofthestate'smostpowerfulpoliticiansaresayingso,too. MayorMichaelBloombergannouncedinhisStateoftheCityaddressThursdaythatthecitywould changehowithandlesthearreststosavepolicetimeandsparemanypeoplethelengthyprocessof beingbookedandheldforarraignment...."You'rejustcloggingthejails,you'recloggingthecourts, you'recloggingthepoliceschedules,"[MayorBloomberg]addedonhisWORAMradioshowFriday.... BloombergandKellyarebackingCuomo'sproposaltodecriminalizepossessionofupto15gramsof marijuanaevenifit'spubliclyvisible,aslongasit'snotbeingsmoked."Thesearrestsstigmatize,"Cuomo saidinhisStateoftheStateaddress,notingthattheycanhurtpeople'schancesofgettingintocollegeor landingjobs."It'snotfair.It'snotright"....NearlythreefifthsofNewYorkCityvotersfavortheconcept, accordingtoaQuinnipiacUniversitypolllastJune.
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NYDailyNewsEditorial/February18,2013
Filethisundersensibleandnotinevitable:MayorBloombergannouncedreformstospeedmisdemeanor potbuststhroughthecriminaljusticesystem.Effectivenextmonth,themayorsaid,copswillnolonger subjectsomeonearrestedforopenpossessionofmarijuanatothefullindignitiesof24to48hoursina holdingcellbeforearraignmentinCriminalCourt....Meaning:Lesshassleforthepersonarrestedandless burdenoncopsandcourts. NewYorkStateisintheprocessofacknowledgingthatmarijuana,onitsown,isnotapressingpublic safetymenacebutapublichealthproblem.Aspartofthatshift,Gov.Cuomomovedtodecriminalizethe actofholdingsmallamountsinpublicview.Whilethatisntyetstatelaw,itmakesnosensetoputevery lastmisdemeanormarijuanaarresteemostlyyoungblackandLatinomenthroughtheringer.
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HarryG.Levine,"BuzzAboutNYCMayor'sMovetoReduceMarijuanaArrestsIsOverblown," Alternet,Feb15,201337
Theobviousquestionis:whyarethesepeoplebeingarrestedanddetainedatall?...[Notarrestingthem] wouldsavefarmorepolicetimeandpublicresources,andsavethetargetedyoungpeoplefroma stigmatizingcriminalarrestrecordfordrugpossession.AsNewYorkGovernorAndrewCuomoputitin hisStateoftheStateaddressinJanuary,"Thesearrestsstigmatize,theycriminalize,theycreatea permanentrecord.It'snotfair,it'snotright,itmustend".... MostofBloomberg'shundredsofthousandsofmarijuanapossessionarrestsoverthelast10yearswere theresultofstopandfrisksinwhichpoliceeitherillegallysearchedpeoplebyreachingintotheirpockets andbelongings,ororderedthemtoemptytheirpockets(whichisprobablyalsoillegal).Middleclassand upperclasswhitesinNewYorkCityarerarelystoppedandsearchedbythepolice,andthereforerarely arrestedoreventicketedformarijuanapossession.Yetyoungwhitesusemarijuanaathigherratesthan youngblacksandLatinos. Itistimeforeveryoneinthecitytobecoveredbythesamemarijuanapossessionpolicylongenjoyedby middleandupperclasswhiteNewYorkers:noarrests,noticketsandnofines.
AlbanyTimesUnion,byJimmyVielkind,Capitolbureau,March12,2013
AlbanyCountyDistrictAttorneyP.DavidSoaresjoinedapressconferenceheldbymembersoftheBlack, PuertoRican,HispanicandAsianLegislativeCaucustochangethestatesmarijuanalawsinordertoclose aloopholethathasledtothearrestofthousandsofmostlyyoung,mostlyblackandHispanic,New YorkCitymen.... Thesearrestshavehavecollateraldamageonyouth,hesaid.Theresalsotheissueofresourcesthat arebeingusedinlawenforcementinenforcingtheselaws.Theseareresourcesthatcouldbebetter
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appliedtoaddressissueslikegunviolenceanddomesticviolencethatwebelieveshouldalwaysbea priorityforlawenforcement.
AlbanyTimesUnion,ByJimmyVielkind,March13,2013
Abidtodecriminalizesmallamountsofmarijuanaisamongthenonfiscalitemsthatcouldworktheir wayintothestatebudgetasnegotiationsdrawtoaclose....CriticsoftheNewYorkCityPolice Department'sstopandfriskprogramsaysometargetsaretoldtotakemarijuanaoutoftheirpockets, whereitwouldonlypromptaticket,andinto"publicview,"wheretheycanbearrestedandcharged withamisdemeanor. Theresult,accordingtoAssemblymanKarimCamara,aBrooklynDemocratwhochairstheBlack,Puerto Rican,HispanicandAsianLegislativeCaucus,isthatblackandHispanicyouthareunjustlyand disproportionatelysaddledwithcriminalrecords,eventhoughstudiesshowmarijuanauseismore prevalentamongwhites. "We'renotonlypunishingtheindividual;we'repunishingsociety,"saidCamara,notingthehighcostsof enforcementandthedifficultypeoplewitharrestrecordsfacegettingintocollege."Thesearrestshave collateraldamageonyouth,"agreedAlbanyCountyDistrictAttorneyDavidSoares,whojoinedCamaraat anewsconferenceorganizedbytheDrugPolicyAlliance.
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ENDNOTES
The reports of the Marijuana Arrest Research Project, and much other information, can be found at: http://marijuana-arrests.com/ The NYPD, of course, does not make information available about the hours officers spend on particular police work. Therefore, in our ongoing research at national police conferences, in academic settings and private meetings we have talked with many police officers from New York and other big cities about everything they do, and in particular about the time they spend arresting people for simple misdemeanors, especially for possession of a small amount of marijuana. We have also learned much from former prosecutors and judges, and for this report from Max Gross, a former researcher for the NY Civilian Complaint Review Board. For a discussion of the research and its methods see: Harry Levine and Deborah Small, Marijuana Arrest Crusade: Racial Bias and Police Policy in New York City, NYCLU: http://marijuanaarrests.com/docs/MARIJUANA-ARREST-CRUSADE.pdf
Harry Levine and Loren Siegel, $75 Million A Year: The Cost of New York City's Marijuana Possession Arrests," Drug Policy Alliance, March 2011: http://marijuana-arrests.com/docs/75-Million-A-Year.pdf "Reefer Madness: Broken Windows Policing and Misdemeanor Marijuana Arrests in New York City, 19892000", Criminology and Public Policy 2007: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=948753 For a discussion of the research see: Harry Levine and Deborah Small, Marijuana Arrest Crusade: Racial Bias and Police Policy in New York City, NYCLU: http://marijuana-arrests.com/docs/MARIJUANA-ARRESTCRUSADE.pdf
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Anthony Bouza, quoted on page 103 of: http://marijuana-arrests.com/docs/MARIJUANA-ARREST-CRUSADE.pdf Marc Jacobson, NY Magazine: http://dragon.soc.qc.cuny.edu/Staff/levine/NYPotArrests/NYMag-The-Splitting-Image-ofPot--Sept-2009.pdf
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Ailsa Chang: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/apr/26/marijuana-arrests/ New York Observer: http://politicker.com/2011/05/critics-of-marijuana-arrests-make-an-economics-argument/ Kristin Gwynne: www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/600637/is_nyc_the_marijuana_arrest_capital_of_the_world Jim Dwyer: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/nyregion/push-for-marijuana-arrests-in-ny-has-side-effects.html New York Daily News Editorial: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/police-commissioner-ray-kelly-ease-arrests-smallamounts-pot-article-1.952070#ixzz1ZLKiOP00 Steven Thrasher: http://www.villagevoice.com/content/printVersion/3091012/ Steven Wishnia: http://www.alternet.org/print/story/153617/hypocritical_nypd_continues_racist_pot_arrest_crusade Associated Press: http://news.yahoo.com/pot-arrests-top-50k-2011-despite-nypd-order-182052393.html Gabriel Sayegh: http://www.alternet.org/print/story/154012/how_the_nypd%27s_ongoing_petty_pot_arrest _crusade_hurts_the_black_and_latino_community New York World: http://www.thenewyorkworld.com/2012/03/30/study-nypd-violating-kelly-edict/ Brent Staples: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/opinion/sunday/the-cost-of-zero-tolerance.html District Attorney Cyrus Vance: http://manhattanda.org/da-vance-testimony-marijuana-law-reform New York Times Editorial: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/opinion/no-crime-real-punishment.html Ailsa Chang, WNYC: http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2012/jun/05/evolution-cuomos-push-lower-pot-arrests/ Bill Hammond: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/cuomo-pitch-yes-cannabis-article1.1089810?localLinksEnabled=false Heather Mac Donald: http://www.city-journal.org/2012/eon0607hm.html Wendy Ruderman & Joseph Goldstein: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/in-lawsuit-police-officers-areaccused-of-ignoring-directive-on-marijuana-arrests/ Former Mayor Ed Koch: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-koch/stopandfrisk-and-the-mari_b_1626941.html Eduardo Porter: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/business/in-rethinking-the-war-on-drugs-start-with-thenumbers.html?pagewanted=all New York Times Editorial: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/23/opinion/an-ineffective-way-to-fight-crime.html?_r=0 Bog Gangi: http://www.alternet.org/when-police-are-encouraged-abuse-not-protect Issa Kohler-Hausmann, New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/war-marijuana-nypd-article1.1215819
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Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/14/usa-newyork-bloomberg-idUSL1N0BECHK20130214 Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/AP26213c7e6a3d4a6a8d6454c652af05e9.html NY Daily News Editorial: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/nice-day-dude-article-1.1265725? Harry Levine: http://www.alternet.org/print/buzz-about-nyc-mayors-move-reduce-marijuana-arrests-way-overblown Albany Times Union: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/181447/david-soares-pushes-for-marijuana-lawchanges/
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