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Editorial: Work together to cut arrests for petty crimes

 
Published May 6, 2016

The St. Petersburg City Council has wisely decided to pause in its march toward creating a civil citation program that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and other minor offenses. The council members delayed their vote to give Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri time to complete a proposal for a countywide prearrest diversion program. This was the right call. The city and county are working toward the same important goal, and they should agree on how to proceed on such an important policy issue so the community has consistency and clarity.

In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the City Council delayed a vote on a proposal to create a civil citation program that would reduce arrests for minor crimes such as littering, petty theft, disorderly conduct and possession of small amounts of marijuana. The council was reacting, in part, to pleas from law enforcement officials such as police Chief Tony Holloway, who favors a single measure that would address the issue for the entire county. The council has led on this issue from the beginning, first by introducing the issue and later by seeing the need for a coordinated effort beyond the city limits.

Earlier this spring, Gualtieri presented an alternative to civil citations by proposing a prearrest diversion program for adults that could mirror its successful effort for juveniles. The sheriff pledged to create a proposal to address a variety of minor crimes with appropriate punishments that don't necessarily lead to an arrest or a criminal record. The City Council, led by member Steve Kornell, advanced its plan to draft an ordinance, unsure that the sheriff's plan was the right fit. Kornell has raised some valid questions, including whether a diversion program would address the disproportionate number of arrests of blacks in St. Petersburg for minor crimes such a marijuana possession. Those issues should be addressed in any plan that is ultimately adopted.

Civil citation programs are growing in popularity around the country as local governments seek to address the reality that law enforcement is locking up too many people for minor crimes when better alternatives exist. The overreliance on arrests for minor, nonviolent crimes creates an albatross for offenders who are saddled with criminal records that may affect their ability to get jobs, housing, loans and custody of their children. Tampa has created a civil citation program to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, but the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has stubbornly refused to consider such a measure. It's a missed opportunity centered on a parochial approach to crime-fighting. St. Petersburg has so far avoided such a stalemate with its willingness to work with Gualtieri and fully vet his plan before making a decision about what direction it will take. The sheriff has said it will take 90 days to put a program in place. That is a reasonable amount of time for such an important effort.

A statewide program remains the best solution as it would cut down on the patchwork of rules that can differ widely from one local jurisdiction to another. But the Legislature has shown little leadership on this issue, so local governments have rightly stepped up. In Pinellas, a countywide approach is the best option.

The St. Petersburg City Council has understood the importance of this issue from the beginning. During this delay, the council should use this opportunity to influence the proposal and make sure it addresses its concerns. This is the kind of smart collaborative process that should move the community forward.