DA candidate calls for no arrest for marijuana Democratic nominee for DA instead would enforce community service, letting officers take on more crimes

At a news conference, Democratic Party district attorney nominee Kim Ogg spoke about her plan to change how misdemeanor drug offenders would be litigated. At a news conference, Democratic Party district attorney nominee Kim Ogg spoke about her plan to change how misdemeanor drug offenders would be litigated. Photo: Cody Duty, Staff Photo: Cody Duty, Staff Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close DA candidate calls for no arrest for marijuana 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Kim Ogg, the Democratic nominee for Harris County district attorney, said Friday she will ticket and enforce community service for, instead of arrest and jail, thousands of people arrested each year in Houston for low-level marijuana possession.

"We can save up to 10 million dollars a year, folks," Ogg told campaign supporters and reporters at a Friday news conference. "We think that taxpayers deserve to have their money spent wisely."

Ogg said more than 12,000 people were charged in 2013 with marijuana possession of less than 4 ounces, then jailed for an average of five days, costing taxpayers $4.4 million a year.

Under her plan, if she is elected in November, those suspected of misdemeanor possession would be cited, have to go to court, then spend two days cleaning up litter. If the community service is successfully completed, offenders would not have a conviction on their record.

"This is the future of marijuana prosecution in Harris County," she said. "Our tagline is 'No jail, no bail, no permanent record, if you earn it.' "

She said the entire workforce could be used for "Clean and Green," a program in which volunteers clean up garbage in the area's bayous.

Ogg, a private attorney and former prosecutor, said her program would free up police to go after "kingpins."

"Law enforcement officers can expect to be tied up on a misdemeanor marijuana arrest at least three hours or more," she said. "My program means more police officers on the streets to respond to rape, burglary and gang-related crimes."

Friday's announcement provided more details of the plan Ogg touted during her successful primary run this spring.

Her opponent, District Attorney Devon Anderson, responded by saying her office is working on a similar program. She issued a statement agreeing that low-risk offenders are straining resources of the community and the county needs an alternative program.

"Since the beginning of the year, we have been working with the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department on a pilot Marijuana Intervention Program that will be implemented this fall," Anderson, a Republican, said in the release. "Crafting this program is complicated and requires the effort and cooperation of all law enforcement agencies to ensure that we create a program that works and stays in line with the law."