MARIJUANA OFFENSES
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
January 31, 2008, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton Goodlett Place, Rm. 278
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The first meeting of the Community Oversight Committee was called to order at 10:15 a.m. Camilla Field, Committee Co-Chair
Present:
Camilla Norman Field, Committee Co-Chair
Michael Goldstein, Committee Co-Chair
Mira Ingram
Aleem Raja
Richard Rendon
Absent:
Patt Denning
Catherine Smith
2. DISCUSS AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 1 AND DECEMBER 18 MEETINGS
November 1 and December 18 minutes were unavailable for approval.
3. COMMITTEE UPDATES
SFPD/Commission: no update.
Office of the DA: see #4 (below).
Office of the Public Defender: Mr. Raja presented a report on various Marijuana offenses in the California Health and Safety code. Also the various ways that data can be gathered on Marijuana offenses was discussed.
Community: Regarding the Community Incident Report Form, the Ella Baker Center and Office of Citizens' Complaints can be helpful. Ms. Field asked the members of the committee to e-mail her the various locations that they would like to see the survey posted.
Board of Supervisors: no update.
4. PRESENTATION BY DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SHARON WOO
Assistant District Attorney Sharon Woo made herself available to answer questions about the District Attorney's approach and policies to Marijuana cases. She books most felony narcotics cases. Ms. Woo explained that all cases of simple possession would be cited out of custody. She says she has available to her information of how many arrests are made vs. how many cases are charged. Their key focus is marijuana sales to undercover officers. She acknowledged that data collection is cumbersome, but will improve when a new system named "Justice" is in place. Ms. Woo explained that cases are often bundled, meaning that the defendant is charged only after he has been arrested multiple times for marijuana offenses.
Ms. Woo agreed to investigate the following areas:
A. What data can be made available to the public?
B. How are the decisions made to charge / discharge / refer to community courts for misdemeanor cases?
C. How many cases are received by the DA vs. how many are booked (in 2007 and 2006).
D. How many medical marijuana cases are currently in the criminal courts.
A member of the public asked Ms. Sharon Woo: What do you do to people who are legitimately growing to supply dispensaries? Ms. Woo explained that if the grower has all the appropriate paperwork, they are not prosecuted.
5. APPROVE INCIDENT REPORT FORM AND DISCUSS DISTRIBUTION
Updated Community Incident Report Form was unavailable.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned.
