Bexar Co. will implement cite-and-release program for minor marijuana offenses, other misdemeanors

Flanked by county officials Wednesday morning, District Attorney Nico LaHood said Bexar County will adopt a cite-and-release program for misdemeanor crimes. Click ahead to see what city council members thought about relaxing the pot policy in April 2017. less Click ahead to see what city council members thought ... more Flanked by county officials Wednesday morning, District Attorney Nico LaHood said Bexar County will adopt a cite-and-release program for misdemeanor crimes. Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Bexar Co. will implement cite-and-release program for minor marijuana offenses, other misdemeanors 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Bexar County will implement a program that treats certain misdemeanors crimes, including low-level marijuana possession, similarly to traffic offenses and diverts offenders from jail.

Flanked by Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and County Judge Nelson Wolff, District Attorney Nico LaHood announced Wednesday morning the program would begin "in the near future," though he didn't provide a specific date.

"I can say this is huge," Salazar said. "This will definitely change the face of how we do things in Bexar County."

Under the new policy, offenders will be given a summons and the opportunity to attend a class, pay a fine and do community service instead of being charged with a crime and jailed.

A monthly or bi-monthly court date will be designated for low-level offenders to appear before a judge. Classes will be specific to each crime and if citizens are able to complete the course, do community service and pay a fee within 90 days, a case will never be filed against them.

Officials are working on who will teach the classes and what steps will be taken to train officers and deputies.

"Let me emphasize, this program is designed with the intention of balancing community safety, fiscal responsibility for the taxpayers and opportunities for citizens of Bexar County," LaHood said.

Offenses eligible under the new policy include:

Class A and Class B possession of marijuana

Class B criminal mischief

Class B theft

Class B theft of service

Class B driving with an invalid license

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Class A and Class B possession of marijuana cover up to 4 ounces.

Salazar said his jail staff was still going through records to see how many people could have been eligible for the program previously but, "It's bound to help my jail population for sure."

A law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2007 gives entities the power to opt-in to programs like the one detailed by LaHood. Bexar County's program will be used for at least six months to a year, and can be tweaked if necessary, LaHood said.

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Dallas and Houston implemented similar programs earlier this year. After Harris County announced its policy in March, LaHood told mySA.com he wanted to treat low-level marijuana crimes "like a traffic ticket." The announcement came seven months later.

We're live at the Bexar County Courthouse where DA Nico LaHood is announcing a new policy on marijuana and other misdemeanors. Read more: http://exne.ws/2wWPRZs Posted by My San Antonio from the Express-News on Wednesday, 27 September 2017

On Wednesday LaHood did not have numbers on how much the program would cost or how much misdemeanor arrests have cost the country in the past.

Bexar County saw 2,477 people arrested for carrying 2 ounces or less of marijuana in 2016, said Sgt. Jesse Salame in a March interview with mySA.com. That carries a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail.

"(The program will) allow the citizen accused an opportunity to learn from their poor choice without having the stigma of an arrest follow them for the rest of their life," LaHood said.

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