Posted on Jul 23rd, 2008

Central Texas Chapter Challenges Police Practice

Central Texas Chapter president Debbie Russell, as part of a coalition of community organizations known as Austin Public Safety Solutions, has the undivided attention of  Austin police chief Art Acevedo. At a city hall press conference on Tuesday, Russell released a report that challenges the city's continued policy of arrest instead of citation. The ACLU of Texas was among a group of organizations that advocated for the change in state law which allows for citation instead of arrest for certain non-violent violations. Russell said making arrests actually costs the city money as well as subjecting more people to arrest and the consequences of arrest even if the charges prove to be unwarranted. Click here for a link to the Austin Public Safety Solutions blog and view all the local news coverage.