[420 Girl]

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said he hopes to have in place by year’s end a department policy that would allow officers to cite suspects for some offenses instead of arresting them.

Other law enforcement agencies, including the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, already have started such “cite and release” programs under a state law that took effect last year.

“I think it is a win for the taxpayers, and for the residents of our city, in that it is going to free up officers to respond to calls for service and more serious, pressing issues,” Acevedo said.

Some civic leaders have criticized Acevedo for not putting into a place sooner a cite and release program for certain misdemeanor crimes, including driving with a suspended license and for small amounts of marijuana possession.

Acevedo said that he’s been working with prosecutors and other officials in a three-county area that includes Austin police officers’ jurisdiction to make sure they also embraced the plan.

Under the law, suspects who are convicted after receiving a citation would still face the same penalties.

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