Well, it turns out that in Texas those numbers are dramatically underreported. The Dallas Morning News revealed earlier this month that Texas counties only report 60-69% of serious crimes to the Department of Public Safety database from which federal Uniform Crime Reports are compiled (link is an AP clip). In Dallas County, less than half of crimes made it into the state system.
Texas has the highest incarceration rate among all states, or for that matter in the world, and nationally, one in five new prisoners in the '90s were added in Texas. That means Texas accounted for a significant percentage of national increases in pot busts, too, except now we know the state almost certainly didn't report them all.
Even with Texas' underreporting, marijuana arrests nationwide nearly doubled in the last decade, reported NORML. Here's the breakdown:
YEAR * MARIJUANA ARRESTS
2003 * 755,187
2002 * 697,082
2001 * 723,627
2000 * 734,498
1999 * 704,812
1998 * 682,885
1997 * 695,200
1996 * 641,642
1995 * 588,963
1994 * 499,122
1993 * 380,689
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2 comments:
In my experience, prosecutors do not care at all about Class B or even Class A POM. I practice in Austin and San Marcos primarily, and while you'd expect Austin to be tolerant, even in nearly-Nazi San Marcos, the prosecutors just hate having their jails clogged with misdemeanor POM cases.
This enforcement problem is rooted in police culture.
I like your blog. I'll be back often.
I really enjoyed your article. Recently I was busted with a personal amount and was sent to jail on St. Pattys day. I really agree with you on you closing remark that the problem is in the current cops who fill up the police force. I guess we just have to wait till they all die or reprogram them. I waitin 2030 legalize that shit!!!
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