Council to mull Cite & Release program

A program to decrease arrests for certain misdemeanors is returning to the city council agenda for the first time since October 2019.

For consideration of Cite and Release, a statewide discretionary program, council will hear a report from the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, discuss draft legislation supporting the program and provide direction to City Manager Bert Lumbreras.

Texas law enforcement agencies have been able to Cite and Release since 2007, allowing officers to use their discretion on whether to issue a citation or to arrest for certain low-level, non-violent offenses. The proposed legislation for the City of San Marcos seeks to guide law enforcement on what instances a citation may or may not be used.