Marijuana program eliminates jail time

“We are not Harris County,” Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said. “I think they did this as a result of dealing with overcrowding issues. It’s logistics and fiscal issues. They’re having to outsource housing of prisoners. They’re spending an enormous amount of money on overtime.”

Nehls said overcrowding has never been an issues at the Fort Bend County Jail.

“We’ve got plenty of room at the inn,” he said.

However, the sheriff said the issue is receiving a lot of attention and cannot be ignored.

“There are more and more states jumping on board with a referendum, letting the voters decide,” he said. “Eventually the issue needs to be addressed in Texas.”

Possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana—which would almost fill up a sandwich bag—is a Class B misdemeanor in Fort Bend County.

Nehls said he could support a program that minimizes punishment or jail time for a first-time offender but he disagrees with Ogg that third- or fourth-time offenders should have no other consequence than taking a class.

“There are many, many kids who are smoking marijuana,” Nehls said. “I’m almost beginning to believe more kids are smoking marijuana than smoking cigarettes. If you think we’re winning the war on drugs, we’re really not.”

Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey Jr. said he intends to continue prosecuting possession of marijuana as a misdemeanor.

“In general, I think there’s a problem with marijuana and a problem with people driving who have been using marijuana,” he said.

Healey added he has reached out to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and Katy Police Chief Bill Hastings to make them aware that no changes are on the horizon in Fort Bend County.

State lawmakers also have expressed concerns.

“Although I support prearrest diversion programs for first-time youthful offenders for possession of small amounts of marijuana, this is a dangerous policy that goes too far,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, whose district includes a portion of Harris County. “It’s bad for the county, bad for our kids and good for the drug dealers.”

However, Huffman and other local legislators have yet to challenge the county program at the legislative level.

As of March 2, no legislation has been filed by local legislators to prevent Ogg’s diversion program since it was announced.

“It’s unclear in which direction conservative lawmakers will go,” said Melissa Hamilton, a visiting criminal law scholar at the University of Houston.

Hamilton said in recent years there has been a growing movement among conservatives to support diversion programs to reduce the jail and prison population in Texas.

“I do think it’s relevant that it’s a misdemeanor and under 4 ounces,” Hamilton said. “Diversion programs for minor amounts of marijuana are common. We have been successful in saving money and peoples’ lives by diverting them from jail and diverting them from having a criminal conviction.”

Hamilton said lawmakers opposed to the program could counter the law by enacting statewide requirements for prosecution in these cases. However, such requirements are uncommon, she said.

“Outside of domestic violence [prosecution], we tend not to see those statewide requirements on prosecution,” Hamilton said.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said his department is prepared to work with the new guidelines set by the district attorney’s office.

“We at the Precinct 4 constable’s office will continue to serve and protect our citizens,” Herman said. “I have personally met with [District Attorney] Ogg on her new program, and we will work with her office on the policy she has set.”