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For Immediate Release: Monday, December 13th, 2004
Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842
(w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151
***PRESS RELEASE***
State
Senator Liz Krueger Cautions That Latest Effort To “Reform” Drug Law Is Only
A Positive First Step in the Right Direction
New York, NY
– State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) commented today on the
Legislature’s surprising passage of a bill being touted by some legislators
as reform of New York’s
draconian Rockefeller Drug Laws. Senator
Krueger cautioned, “While lowering penalties for several nonviolent drug
offenses is a positive first step, much reform still needs to be done with
expanding drug treatment and judicial discretion. In my estimation we have yet to truly reform the Rockefeller
Drug Laws, but I am hopeful that we will get there soon.”
The special session of the Legislature that was convened
last week was cloaked in mystery. Few
individuals, ranging from elected officials to top-level staff, knew any
information pertaining to what bills were going to come forth. “The drug law reform bill was a clear
indicator that those of us who have been calling for radical change in the
Legislature are finally being heard,” said Senator Krueger. “For the
leadership of both houses to react with such haste on an issue of such
importance reveals the political implications that the reform movement is
having on the Legislature.”
“After nearly 10 years of argument and discussion on how to change New
York’s ineffective handling of illegal drug use and
trafficking, the bill that came to the Senate floor on December 7th
contained only those changes in the
law that the Senate, Assembly and Governor could agree on,” remarked Senator Krueger. “The Rockefeller Drug Laws of 1973
mandated specific sentence ranges for dealing with all drug
convictions—first-time offenses, repeat offenses, nonviolent offenses, and
violent offenses. Mandated sentences
essentially remove the viewpoints and voices of New
York’s judges from the sentencing phase of drug
offender trials. This particularly heinous aspect of New
York’s drug laws was left intact by last weeks
vote.”
Senator Krueger pointed out that
the new law does reduce most low-level offender sentences. “For
example, the revision measure reduces the sentencing of a nonviolent, Class
B, drug offender from a 15-years-to-life sentence to a more realistic
8-to-20-years sentence with parole eligibility at less than 7 years.”
“For years my Senate Democratic colleagues and I have fought to reform New
York’s ineffective drug sentencing system. We
have maintained that major, violent drug felons must serve sentences that
reflect the damage they have inflicted on their communities. However,
low-level, nonviolent drug offenders should not be shoved off into prisons
for long terms and expected to rehabilitate themselves,” said Senator Krueger.
In closing, Senator Krueger
stated, “In January, when the Legislature returns to Albany
for the 2005 session, I will be pushing hard for truly effective reform of
the Rockefeller Drug Laws. For now, though, this new law will make a
few important changes in how our state deals with illegal drug use. These
changes are an important first step.
Be assured that the Senate Democrats will be back in 2005 to continue
the long march towards reform.”
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