As expected, the Pima County Attorney’s Office will not charge suspects for low-level drug offenses. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover has notified local law enforcement of the policy change.
Although Conover cited the unvaccinated as the cause of the policy change, sources in the Sheriff’s Office say it is exactly the kind of policy Conover ran and won on like other progressive county attorneys across the county.
The policy also covers anyone arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia or related personal-use incidents.
Conover’s predecessor, Barbara LaWall announced at the height of the pandemic that the County Attorney’s Office would not charge personal possession and paraphernalia cases, in order to reduce the jail population.
Conover lifted LaWall’s order, but with jail staff facing termination if they do not get vaccinated, Conover has the perfect opportunity test out nation’s first pre-charge drug court. The program known as STEPs allows offenders to be immediately funneled out of the system and straight into treatment.