BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Commissioners have agreed to consider a future ordinance that could reduce the punishment for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Under the initial proposal, law enforcement officers would have the option of issuing a misdemeanor civil citation punishable by a $100 fine or make an arrest if a person is caught with twenty grams of marijuana or less in Broward County.
Why Broward County is considering this and what the civil citations can do for their police department is discussed.
Photo: Robert Labelle
Coordinator, Civil CItation program for the Broward County Human Services Department
Last year in Broward County, there were 2,858 first-time juvenile
offenders,
with a criminal record, dealing with the Department of Juvenile Justice
and the local criminal court system. Now, with recent state
legislation, juvenile offenders have the opportunity to participate in a
new Civil Citation Program for Juveniles, a collaborative partnership
between law enforcement officials and the County’s Human Services
Department.
Last year in Broward County, there were 2,858 first-time juvenile
misdemeanor offenders. Each of these youth came into contact with the
criminal juvenile justice system and the end result was a criminal
record.