Ken Thompson, the first African-American to ever be elected to serve as Brooklyn district attorney passed away. He was 50.
Thompson was a one of the leading voices for criminal justice reform. In 2014, he made the decision to decriminalize cannabis possesion.
Under his policy, those caught with under 25 grams now have their cases dismissed prior to arraignment.
Per High Times
Thompson’s press release noted that of Brooklyn’s more than 8,500 cases the previous year in which the top charge was misdemeanor marijuana possession, more than two-thirds were dismissed because the defendant accepted an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal, or ACD. This basically means the charge is dropped if the defendant keeps a clean nose for a specified period. Thompson argued the whole thing was a waste of everyone’s time.
“The processing of these cases exacts a cost on the criminal justice system and takes a toll on the individual,” Thompson said. “Given that these cases are ultimately—and predictably—dismissed, the burdens that they pose on the system and the individual are difficult to justify. We are pouring money into an endeavor that produces no public safety benefit.” In arguing for the policy, Thompson noted the racial disparity in New York City cannabis arrests, which had been soaring for years.
Thompson was also instrumental in clearing the names of many arrested for low-level drug offenses through his Conviction Review Unit, set up to re-examine questionable convictions. Lots of cannabis cases were dismissed.