Crimes such as selling small amounts of marijuana, failing to pay the public transport fare, resisting arrest by a police officer and, in certain cases, prostitution, will no longer be prosecuted in Manhattan, according to a memorandum sent by the new prosecutor. District Attorney for this New York bureau, Alvin Bragg.
Bragg, the first African-American to hold this position, announced these new measures, which also include the crime of obstruction of public administration, in a report in which he defended that they
will make the city safer
and the criminal justice system fairer , as reported by CNN.
The plan, however, faces criticism from police union leaders.
New Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Craig Ruttle / AP
The Association of Detectives, which represents 5,000 officers, said in a statement that the changes "would weaken the ability of the police to make arrests that lead to reduced crime," according to The New York Times newspaper.
"Officers don't want to be sent to enforce laws that district attorneys are not going to prosecute," said Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association.
"
There are already too many people who believe that they can commit crimes
, resist arrest, interfere with police officers and face no consequences," he added.
Bragg defended his plan in a thread on Twitter on Wednesday.
"These policy changes will not only make us safer on their own, but will also free up resources from the prosecution to focus on violent crime and larger cases," he wrote.
"
We will be tough when necessary
, but we will not try to destroy lives through unnecessary incarceration," he explained.
Bragg gave examples of the measurements.
If a person uses a weapon to rob a store, or any armed robbery, they will be prosecuted.
If someone hits a police officer, the same.
"We cannot be safe on the streets."
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"But if you are homeless and have an addiction problem, and you steal toothpaste and some bread, you will be referred to treatment to help
break the cycle of recidivism
," he clarified.
Another of Bragg's intentions is to limit the number of underage defendants in adult courts.
The new mayor of New York,
Eric Adams
, has shown his support for Bragg for now.
During an interview Wednesday with CBS, Adams said he knew and respected him, calling him a "great prosecutor."