Hurricane
Harvey disrupted countless lives, but prosecutors have a warning for those who
have failed to complete a class required to avoid being charged with a crime
over small amounts of marijuana.
They
have until this coming March 1 to complete a program, or warrants will be filed
for their arrests, making them subject to prosecution, Harris County District
Attorney Kim Ogg said Thursday.
“There
comes a time when everyone must be held accountable,” Ogg said. “That time is
now, as the Houston region has largely recovered from a storm of historic
proportions.”
The
Misdemeanor Marijuana Diversion Program, launched by Ogg last March, gives
participants 90 days to complete a four-hour class taught for the district
attorney’s office by the Harris County Probation Department.
For
the ten years prior to the program, an average of 10,000 people a year were
charged for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
“This
exposed them to a criminal record limiting their job, housing and educational
opportunities,” Ogg said. “Our community is safer when we keep people in the
work force.”
Since
the program began, it has drawn 3,209 participants, according to the district
attorney’s office.
1,415
persons have completed the program.
978
people are pending completion of the program, but still within their 90-day
period to do so.
816 people have failed to complete the
class on time.
“People
have an opportunity to complete this class and get on with their lives,” Ogg
said.
The
program saves the county approximately $27 million a year that can be
redirected toward fighting violent crimes and other offenses, she said.
Those
who need to take the class should go to the website www.go2gov.net/go/mmdp to register and
pay the required $150 cost of the class.