More Arrests For Low-Level Pot Possession In NYC Than Any Other Crime; 50,000 A Year

[Purveyor]

Associated Press

NEW YORK — As the nation's biggest city deals with threats of terrorism and a variety of violent crimes, carrying a little bit of marijuana is still a big deal.

There are more arrests for low-level pot possession in New York City — about 50,000 a year — than any other crime, accounting for about one of every seven cases that turn up in criminal courts.

It's a phenomenon that has persisted despite more leniency toward marijuana use — the state loosened its marijuana-possession laws more than 30 years ago.

Critics say the deluge has been driven in part by the New York Police Department's strategy of stopping people and frisking those whom police say meet crime suspects' descriptions. More than a half a million people, mostly black and Hispanic men, were stopped last year — unfair targets, critics say. About 10 percent of stops result in arrests.

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http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2011-11-06/more-arrests-low-level-pot-possession-nyc-any-other-crime-50000-year

[libinnyandia]

1. I wonder how much all of this costs.

Emperor Bloomberg is a control freak. It will be so good when he's out. 2013 can't come too soon.20 years of Giuliani and Bloomberg. Crazy NYC voters!

[Bluenorthwest]

2. And the vast majority of those arrested are African American or

Latino, the figures are staggering. It is racist to the core.

[PETRUS]

3. Yes it is.

http://www.endnewjimcrow.org/

[Purveyor]

5. More than a half a million people, mostly black and Hispanic men, were stopped last year —

This just blows my mind... half a million? Seriously?

[PETRUS]

4. High-level war crimes and financial fraud

...do far more damage. Law enforcement resources are tragically misallocated.