The New Orleans Armistice - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The New Orleans Armistice

Increasing community participation in crime fightingSlide2

The perception of an increase of violent crime is on the rise

There is no short term solution to NOPD manpower issues

A constant refrain citizens hear is that we are not cooperating when witnessing crimeWhat is needed? A bold initiative to try and bring more citizens “into the fold”- we all suffer when criminals run amok

Current SituationSlide3

Allowed officer to write municipal summons vs. an actual arrest

Results have shown arrests cut in half (6000 vs 2600 in 2008-2011 vs. 2011-2013) and has been a success

Data shows that NOPD has been professional in issuing summons vs. arrests (racially)Great first step in restoring trust

Ordinance #28246Slide4

On average since ordinance was adopted the DA’s office prosecutes an average of over 900 felony possession cases a year. 93% of which are young African –American males.

During the legislative session DA’s consistently stated that “only bad people” went to jail for marijuana…..How do we explain Bernard Noble?

In our community outreach it appears the citizens do not see a marijuana user as a criminal. There is a disconnect between the values of the citizenry and state law

Criminal Justice

I

ssuesSlide5

When the community in general disregards a law for generations it crumbles the public trust in the system in general

The fine for these summons can amount to $1000; a large amount of money to working poor

Would it not be more productive to engage the community? Marijuana has been part of this city’s culture for well over 100 years and is not going away

Criminal Justice

I

ssuesSlide6

The relationship between the community and police has been tense for generations

While there is no silver bullet to repairing years of bad relations, bold action can help jump start the process

We are recommending an action plan that could bring back many citizens who feel they have had an adversarial relationship with the policeThese citizens are much more likely to become part of the solution

NOPD/Community RelationsSlide7

Working with NOPD, the City Council, Mayor and District Attorney to attempt at bold new strategy to bring more citizens into the fold to fight violent crime

Implement a policy similar to Washington DC when it comes to marijuana policy;

While the city retains state law to prosecute violent threats to society.Half of the city’s

d

rug trade is marijuana related

What The

A

rmistice ProposesSlide8

Working with retired LEO’s we have come up with an average of 6 hours per arrest for marijuana possession

If we accept that the 900 suspects being charged with felony possession are all a threat to our cityThat still leaves 1700 people arrested annuallyThat is 10,000 manpower hours being lost to enforcing marijuana prohibition- a scarce resource that could be better used elsewhere

What the Armistice ProposesSlide9

On the 2016 ballot CommonsenseNOLA will have an amendment to city charter on marijuana

Basically begin a cease fire on marijuana prohibition in New Orleans

Allow households a maximum of 5 plants(out of public view)Simple possession will become a civil fine of $50 in public $100 for smoking in public

What the Armistice

P

roposesSlide10

There would be exceptions, in which state law could still be used.

For Example:

Possession/use with 100 yards of schools, parks and churchesPossession of a gun(outside of home) and marijuanaCommitting crime while in possessionGrowing beyond the city limit

What the Armistice

P

roposesSlide11

This would still allow DA’s to prosecute the violent criminal element

Allow NOPD to focus on hard drugs and their sale

Allowing people to grow their own would almost eradicate the illegal market (DC allows gifting of marijuana but not the sale)Make the sizable number of marijuana users less apprehensive to deal with police

What the armistice proposesSlide12

The Washington DC Metro Police policy procedure is here:

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/local/special-dc-police-order-on-marijuana-enforcement/1428

/ "All those [marijuana] arrests do is make people hate us." She added, "Marijuana smokers are not going to attack and kill a cop. They just want to get a bag of chips and relax. Alcohol is a much bigger problem

.“ Cathy Lanier DC Chief of Police

The DC ModelSlide13

A bold plan to bring the citizenry into line with the system

Make the system more realistic to the citizens

By taking marijuana out of the local drug war allows limited resources to focus on the real threat to our cityThe percentage of citizens involved in non-marijuana drug use is a much more manageable number

Benefits to Criminal Justice SystemSlide14

Bring in the Health Department to take a more proactive strategy in helping abusers get the help they need-local jails do not have the funds to properly rehabilitate abusers

This is being done around the country –just not in the South …yet

There are national groups willing to partner with us to make this a success

Benefits to Criminal Justice SystemSlide15

Get citizens to cooperate in criminal investigations without fear of incriminating themselves because of marijuana

Is this a silver bullet? No but a sensible step in the right direction to re-engage the community

It took generations to create the situation we are in currently, but it is a first step to creating trust with the community.

Benefits to Criminal Justice SystemSlide16

Leading a cutting edge strategy to re-engage elements of the community who have had an adversarial relationship with police for decades

We are currently an amnesty city for undocumented immigrants this could be expanded to include the marijuana community

Benefits to New OrleansSlide17

The medical marijuana program will be very strict and take years to implement

This will allow patients to grow their own medicine and get relief soon, in the manner that best fits their needs

As the vanguard city of the South, this is a opportunity to assert ourselves as agents of change in the South

Benefits to New OrleansSlide18

Other cities with uncooperative legislatures are following this strategy Philadelphia, New York and Miami recently

We have the historical precedent

The city barely enforced alcohol prohibition during that failed social experiment. New Orleans was the wettest city in America!

Benefits to New OrleansSlide19

The Armistice would be a policy, therefore flexible enough to fine tune after implementation or done in stages

We have little to lose with this proposition and a lot to gain

Even with the draconian laws Louisiana has on the books (with latest reforms we are still one of the harshest in the country), the current policy has failed in curbing marijuana (and narcotics in general) use.

Let us lead the way in a proactive policy that can result in real changes to police community relations

Benefits to New Orleans