Crime Committee Report e.indd - New York State Senate

Police did not focus on marijuana arrests from 1977 through 1996, arresting around 30,000 30
people total in both decades for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana. But police equaled
or topped that 10-year arrest total in nine of the next 11 years. In 2007 alone, police made
39,700 arrests for marijuana possession. 31
The arrests also succeed in dramatically expanding the NYPD’s vast database of New Yorkers’
personal information. Each marijuana arrest brings a new set of fingerprints and photos into
the NYPD’s extensive system.
Recommendations:
• z Hold public hearings and thoroughly examine the costs, consequences, and racial, gender,
age and class disparities of the NYPD’s marijuana arrest practices;
• z Ensure that law enforcement of marijuana offenses is consistent with the intent of New
York State law;
• z Substantially increase the pay scale of police officers to reduce the need for overtime;
• z Require the NYPD to provide the City Council and State detailed, accurate and timely
data on its arrests, citations and other practices, and make that information public.
30 “Albany Agreement Reached on Easing Marijuana Curbs,” by Richard J. Meislin,New York Times, May 4, 1977.
31 “Anderson Scores Marijuana Plan: Opposes Carey’s Proposal to Lift Criminal Penalties in Sale of Small Amounts,” by Iver Peterson, New York
Times, Feb. 10, 1976. See Legislative Memo from Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried on Marijuana laws and level of use, dated June 9, 1977,
included in bill jacket for S. 4481-A.
Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction | 2009-2010 Report 25