Fate of Cite-and-Release in Dallas Up in the Air

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The fate of cite-and-release in Dallas is still up in the air despite plans for it to take effect October 1.

The City of Dallas approved the initiative which allows Officers to issue tickets instead of arrest people with small amounts of marijuana. City and county officials say the thought is that the plan will cause less jail crowding and allow Officers to remain on the streets instead of booking people in jail for small crimes. The penalties would not change, just the process would. Before the plan takes effect, the Dallas County Commissioners must approve funding for it. County Commissioner John Wiley Price said he doesn’t think the plan should take effect in Dallas, but not other cities in Dallas County.

“Citizens in the City of Dallas are getting treated differently than citizens in Dallas County,” said Price.

Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson said her Office will prosecute all cases the same and that she supports any city in its desire for cite-and-release. But, she said her office can not implement cite-and-release for cities who haven’t voted to approve it. No other city in Dallas County has voted to approve the plan.

“If you all don’t think cite-and-release is something that ought to happen because you don’t think its fair for everybody since it’s not in DeSoto or not in Duncanville, then vote it down,” Johnson told Commissioners.

The Commissioners Court is expected to vote on funding for cite-and-release at its next meeting later this month.