Press Release: Details of the New Philadelphia Marijuana Procedure

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Philadelphia: Details of the new marijuana procedure
by Chris Goldstein 6/9/2010

The DA’s office reports that six marijuana consumers entered the new diversion program for minor pot possession yesterday, the first time it was available.  Here are the main points of the new procedure:

-         No criminal prosecution in court

-         No bail money required for release: Previously all minor marijuana offenders had a bail amount set. If they could not come up with bail money they were held until arraignment. Today, those who enter into the diversion program are released after processing.

-         No drug conviction on record: By entering the new diversion program an individual pleads to a lesser offense. This means: Students will not lose loans; teachers and others will not face losing employment; public record searches will not reveal a marijuana related conviction

-         Offense is automatically expunged: Entering the new diversion program also means the arrest is expunged from the individual’s permanent record, without having to hire an attorney.

The change in marijuana possession procedures was announced by District Attorney Seth Williams in April and vocally backed by Pennsylvania State Supreme Court.

Philadelphia is the only jurisdiction in Pennsylvania that cannot issue the summary violations on the street to the offender.  Thus, officers will still be required to take marijuana consumers briefly into custody to process them into the new diversion program.

Still, the possibility of taking over 4,700 small pot possession cases out of the criminal court system should have a tangible impact on court efficiency. The new diversion program, if employed in a majority of these type of cases, could save the Public Safety budget hundreds of thousands of tax dollars this year alone.

The cost savings would be closer to $3million every year if Philadelphia Police were given the same power as their peers around the state to issue the marijuana possession summary violations on the street.

PhillyNORML conducts annual reports on the local marijuana arrests. More info:

Philly: Marijuana mug shots cost city $3million annually

Philly: White women rarely arrested for pot

PhillyNORML is the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The group meets twice each month to plan reform activities.

 

Original blog link: http://www.examiner.com/x-29881-Philadelphia-NORML-Examiner~y2010m6d9-Philadelphia-Details-of-the-new-marijuana-procedure