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Big Bucks
Emmanuel Says..
The Facts
It's Black and White
More facts
100
What is the leading cause of arrest by the Chicago Police Department?
cannabis possession
100
How did Mayor Emmanuel get the idea to decriminalize Marijuana
A police officer suggested it to Emmanuel during Emmanuel's summer ride along with one of the Chicago Police Department's gang units.
100
What does research prove about marijuana being a "gateway" drug.
There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs.
100
Name one of the Chicago suburbs that follow Chicago in pot convictions.
After Chicago, the most pot convictions and guilty pleas came out of west suburban Maywood, followed by Bellwood (west), Evanston (north), Cicero (west), and Harvey (south) .
100
How much a person found with 10 grams or less of marijuana be ticketed?
$200
200
How much does local government spend prosecuting, and jailing people for marijuana possession?
$78 million a year To put it in context, that's more than twice the combined budgets of the City Council and the Cook County Board.
200
Where does Mayor Emmanuel stand on the issue of Marijuana decriminalization in Chicago?
He is still undecided. Fran Spielman said that "[Mayor Emmanuel] would not be rushed into decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana because doing so creates its own set of problems that other cities have been forced to correct."
200
In the year 2000, According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this percentage of Americans admitted to having tried Marijuana... (a correct answer will be within 5%, give or take.) Daily Double: in 2003, which Ethnic group had the largest amount of persons who reported using marijuana in thier lifetime. (this only includes persons 12 years of age and older)
35 percent To put this in context, that is roughly 98 million Americans. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that in 2003 43% of Caucasians reported that they had used marijuana in their lifetime and 38% of Blacks. The most amount of users in a particular ethnic group belonged to American Indian or Alaska Native at 49%
200
Which ethnic group has the largest amount of marijuana possesion arrests?
By and large, black people are disproportionately getting busted for it. Disscussion: Why is this?
200
What percentage of low-level marijuana cases are thrown out?
90% Disscussion: What does this suggest?
300
How much does it cost to open a marijuana posession case?
$2,500 a case... That's true even if the cases end up getting tossed out.
300
Mayor Emmanuel said that the issue of decriminalization has two sides to it. The first side is cost. The second is what?
The criminal justice side Discussion: What does he mean by "criminal justice"
300
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter displayed his feelings toward laws against marijuana usage. Was he for strict laws or against them?
Against According to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter: "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use." President Jimmy Carter: Message to Congress, August 2, 1977.
300
What is the ratio of black to white ARRESTS for marijuana possession in Chicago? (this is different from the ratio of people who plead or are found guilty of possesion)
The ratio of black to white arrests for marijuana possession in Chicago is 15 to 1.
300
How many hours of overtime do Chicago cops get for showing up as witnesses to court? DAILY DOUBLE
Chicago police get a minimum of two hours of overtime every time they show up as witnesses for any court case, even if they only stay for five minutes. Daily Double: How many police hours do marijuana busts consume in Cook County annualy?
400
Cook County residents are paying approximately $70 million a year to arrest and prosecute people caught carrying pot. What makes up the other 8 million dollars?
The cost of incarceration. Most people busted for pot possession are released after posting bond. However, last year about 2,600 ยท of them were held in jail pending a court appearance, either because they couldn't post bond, had felony records, or were on probation. Cost to taxpayers: $8 million.
400
Mayor Emmanuel said that this is motivating people to be interested in decriminalization..
the issue of the cost in the system: arresting, overtime, court, jail. Discussion: Concerning money, what did Mayor Emmanuel not mention? And why do you believe he doesn't mention this?
400
Convicted marijuana offenders are denied federal benefits and, in many states, are automatically stripped of their driving privileges, even if the offense is not driving related. What driving related offense does not carry the same penalty?
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol.
400
What is the black to white ratio of those who plead or are found guilty of marijuana possesion? (this is different from the ratio of those ARRESTED for possesion)
the ratio among those who plead or are found guilty is 40 to 1.
400
How much does it cost taxpayers per day to house an inmate in Cook County jail?
$143 a day to house someone in the Cook County jail.
500
What percentage of arrests in Cook County become criminal cases?
100% Bonus: what does this suggest?
500
Mayor Emmanuel said that other cities that have done something like decriminalization have created what?
"If you look at other cities that have done something like this, they have also created their own set of problems on the criminal side" Discussion: What do you imagine those "problems" to be?
500
Under federal law, possessing a single marijuana cigarette or less is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine, the same penalty as possession of what?
small amounts of heroin, cocaine or crack. Discussion: Are there other misdemeanor violations that should carry more severe penalties?
500
Roughly estimate the percentage of low-level marjuana possesion convictions in Chicago of each ethnic group. Blacks Hispanics Whites
89% Blacks 9% Hispanic 2% White
500
How much time and how many officers does it takes to make a misdemeanor arrest?
Police say that it takes two officers at least an hour and a half to make a misdemeanor arrest: or three police hours total. "They'll take him to the station, put him in lockup, maybe walk down the hall and bullshit a little with the other cops on duty," says one veteran. "Then they type up the paperwork and do the inventory. Then everything gets reviewed-sergeants approve the reports and the watch commander reviews everything. If you're good, it's two hours on the low side." Discussion: What does this suggest about the Chicago Police Department?