New Program Aims to Put the Worst of Scofflaws in Jail : Justice: Those who ignored citations for violent offenses and drinking and driving are prime targets.

People charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses who thumb their noses at the law by ignoring court dates and arrest warrants are being brought to justice under a special program begun by local law enforcement officials.

Deputy City Atty. Gretchen North, head of the arraignment unit of the department’s criminal division, announced the new program Tuesday with the arrest of three offenders. The men were included in a list of 70 people targeted for arrest in the program, called the multiple violator system.

Although officials for now have targeted only the 70 worst offenders, North said there are “hundreds of others in the pipeline.” Estimating the number of multiple offenders is almost impossible, she said, because their names are printed on a computer readout that is more than 18 inches thick.

Law enforcement officials said some offenders have been charged with as many as 70 misdemeanor violations, including driving under the influence and crimes of violence.

“People are committing more and more offenses,” North said. “This bad behavior is being reinforced by nothing happening to them. We conceived this multiple violator idea and committed resources to identifying people accused of multiple misdemeanors.”

She added that law enforcement officials have decided to concentrate on suspects charged with “serious misdemeanor offenses,” such as driving under the influence, carrying illegal weapons, drug usage and crimes of violence.

The multiple violators program is aimed at people accused of committing misdemeanors only in the city of San Diego. North said that of the 691,000 outstanding misdemeanor citations or warrants in San Diego County, about 398,000 were issued for offenses committed in the city.

Because of a shortage of space in the County Jail, misdemeanor offenders are merely issued citations and told to appear in court; they are rarely jailed.

“The fact is that multiple (misdemeanor) offenders simply fail to appear in court for arraignment, because they don’t fear arrest,” North said. “Arrest warrants (for misdemeanor offenses) are routinely issued, but not one has been served since April, 1988, because there is no room at the jail.”

Under the new program, which has the city attorney, county marshal and San Diego police working together, officials hope to make two or three arrests each week.

North said she does not expect the overcrowded jail to be an impediment to keeping the arrestees locked up.

“It’s a system of prioritization. Once an offender is arraigned or sentenced to custody, the sheriff will make room for him or her. Until then, he (the sheriff) doesn’t have room for them until they’re arraigned,” North said.

She refused to be specific about guidelines that will determine when a person will be arrested under the program. Some people with a minimum of 15 citations or warrants for “lesser offenses” will be taken into custody when apprehended, she said.

“But arrests will also be made of people with fewer offenses if they involve driving under the influence or violence,” North said.

If a defendant pleads not guilty at the arraignment, prosecutors will ask for a high bail figure to keep him in custody, she added.

The first three defendants arrested under the new program were taken into custody last week. According to North, each man was wanted on warrants for driving under the influence.

One man had four outstanding warrants for drunk driving, while another had five warrants, including three for driving under the influence, one for using cocaine and another for petty theft.

The latter man pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 210 days in County Jail and fined $990. In addition, he was ordered to attend a total of 10 Narcotics Anonymous meetings, as well as five Alcoholics Anonymous meetings a week for a year. He was also prohibited from owning a car for three years after he is released from custody.

The third defendant had one outstanding warrant for driving under the influence. Three others issued in his name for drunk driving were actually given to his brother-in-law, who gave police the man’s name, North said.