Houston Police Department has been operating a cite-and-release program since February 2020, and it remains a subject of heated controversy among citizens.

The cite-and-release policy permits officers to issue citations for some violations rather than taking suspects into custody. While this may sound like a dangerous proposition, there are considerable limitations upon the circumstances in which this policy can be used.

The cite-and-release program only applies to nonviolent misdemeanor offenses such as graffiti, driving without a valid license, or theft of less than $750. However, it does not apply to suspects under 17, on parole, or those with outstanding warrants. The Texas Legislature set up cite-and-release as an optional policy for #lawenforcement agencies in the state.

Supporters believe this program protects first-time offenders from the criminal justice system, which will hopefully prevent them from continuing to follow a life of crime. It also frees up officer to spend more time patrolling the streets and protecting our city. Less time booking minor criminals would translate into a more effective police presence, they say.

Opponents believe this program will encourage people to violate the law. They feel that it causes additional risk for the victims of crime, as turning someone in for an offense could leave informants open to acts of revenge by people they assumed would have been arrested. This is particularly concerning to some people with this viewpoint given the fact that the police department is already under immense pressure from the highly critical opinion many people exhibit towards police.

The question up for debate: Should Houston continue to participate in their cite-and-release program for Class A and Class B violations?