Ravenswood Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey held a press conference with several Alderman, including Danny Solis (25) and Ariel Reboyras (30th). All announced their support for a city ordinance making possession for a small amount of marijuana be an offense punishable only by a fine.
Fritchey’s announcement makes him an ideological partner on this issue with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Preckwinkle has referred to the Cook County criminal court system as “racist” and she’s repeatedly called the drug war a failure. Frequenty during those diatribes, Preckwinkle has insisted on reducing prison sentences for non violent offenders. She says that 70% of those housed in Cook County Jails are there for non violent offenses.
On the County level similar measures are already in place. Kristina Soldana, policy analyst for John Fritchey, told the Bulldog, “(the) County ordinance gives the Sheriffs more leeway in charging suspects arrested with a small amount of marijuana.” The County ordinance only applies to unincorporated areas of Cook County.
Soldana explained that Chicago is a home rule city and any change would have to come at the city level. The Chicago city council is expected to take up the measure shortly. The ordinance would call for a $200 fine for any possession busts of 10 grams and less.
Soldana said that Commissioner Fritchey is looking into the idea of “revamping the current county ordinance to more clearly define repeat offenders.”
President Preckwinkle also released a statement in support saying, “I want to commend Commissioner Fritchey for joining this debate as effectively and as passionately as he has today. I also want to commend Alderman Mell, Burnett and Rebroyas. The decades-long war on drugs has failed to eradicate drug use and no longer holds up as sound policy. As I’ve said before the social cost of incarceration coupled with the cost of prolonged, unnecessary court proceedings has taken a toll on our criminal justice system and on taxpayers for far too long.
“I released a budget yesterday that makes the hard choices necessary to reform our criminal justice system and save tax payers money. The County spends roughly $78 million a year on costs related to marijuana arrests, and tax payers deserve our resources to be spent more productively – on long-term infrastructure projects and on alternative diversion programs for our youth population who circulate through the criminal justice system.
“I will continue to advocate for this issue and work with public safety and law enforcement officials at all levels of government. In September of this year, the County Board passed an ordinance making marijuana a ticket-able offense in areas of Cook County patrolled by Sheriff’s Police, and I will work with Commissioner Fritchey to help expand this effort even further. I hope that we can come to a sustainable solution on this matter soon and I once again urge elected officials to join in this effort. “
It costs the County $143 per day to house someone at Cook County jail. Preckwinkle has recently said that reducing the prison population has become a goal of every county justice system stakeholder and cuts to the prison population are reflected in the budget that Preckwinkle recently passed.
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