Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson announced that prosecutors will begin dismissing the cases of people caught with small amounts of marijuana in the borough.
The Associated Press reports that Thompson unveiled the new policy yesterday, which will give prosecutors the option of dismissing class B misdemeanor marijuana cases up front "at their discretion." Thompson maintained his stance that the city is "pouring money into an endeavor that produces no public safety benefit."
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton released a statement saying that, because the police still must enforce state law, Brooklyn's new policy "will not result in any changes in the policies and procedures of the NYPD."
Regardless, this is a big revelation for Brooklyn, one that should result in fewer trivial arrests, thus allowing police to focus on violent crime.
[via Associated Press]
Send tips, photos and news developments to cityguidetips@complex.com.
