The actual text:
Quote:
Theft of Necessary Items
Study after study shows that when we arrest, jail, and convict people for non-violent crimes committed out of necessity, we only prevent that person from gaining the stability necessary to lead a law-abiding life. Criminalizing poverty is counter-productive for our community’s health and safety. For that reason, this office will not prosecute theft of personal items less than $750 unless the evidence shows that the alleged theft was for economic gain.
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So, this particular policy should only be applied when the theft was for a necessity. Not just when an item is less than $750.00.
If it is applied as written then the color tv example should end up being prosecuted.
I do not know why they would put the limit as high as $750. Most "necessities" would be substantially less than that.
But, nonetheless, the article you quoted ignores a very important part of the policy.
A PDF of the actual text is at
https://www.texasobserver.org/dallas...incarceration/
.