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Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms Draw Jeers from Republicans

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Gov. David Paterson, flanked by Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, at an Albany press conference this morning. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
State Senate Republicans are voicing outrage today following Governor Paterson's morning press conference announcing an agreement among Democrats to repeal most of the Rockefeller-era drug laws. Republican State Senator Martin Golden, whose district stretches from Bay Ridge to Gerritsen Beach, tells the Times Union the reform will "coddle the criminals and put them back on the streets." Others derided the repeal's treatment programs as a "Get out of Jail Free Card." And Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos is threatening to keep his members out of the chamber unless Republicans get "a sufficient amount of time" to study the bill.

At this morning's press conference at the State Capitol, Paterson expressed confidence there will be enough votes to pass the measure in the Senate, where Democrats hold a narrow majority. (The bill is included in the budget package for the fiscal year beginning April 1st.) Paterson told reporters, "Drug abuse is an illness and more and more over the years we're finding that it's a treatable illness," and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "Mandatory minimum sentences are a one-size-fits-all approach that does not work."

The final agreement among Democrats (outlined here) gives judges discretion to place addicted first and second-time drug offenders into alcohol and substance abuse treatment, and makes treatment available to the non-violent addicted offenders who commit a range of other crimes. According to the Times Union, the judges will also be able to dismiss all charges or seal records of offenders who successfully complete treatment, and punish them in the event of relapse or reoffense. And the agreement could grant freedom to offenders who remain in prison under the old laws.

Manhattan Democratic Senator Eric Schneiderman says the cost of implementing the reforms is being negotiated, but the state may use $67 million of federal stimulus money to expand treatment programs, among other things. And once fully implemented, Democratic lawmakers estimate the reforms will save taxpayers $250 million a year from the cost of housing prisoners.

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By John Del Signore in on March 27, 2009 4:56 PM

Comments [rss]

  • Felix Hoenikker

    Awwwww. That's 250 million in pork those upstate districts won't get.

  • starrygordon

    Apparently there is no evil, no abomination, to which the Republicans will not stoop.

  • TrippinJoJo

    if cops can't bust users then can't fulfill their quota, no?



    govt wants criminals. they need law breakers or else those who "defend/enforce the law" won't have a job. Less business folks.



    it's all about business. as usual.

  • ides_of_march

    The intention is to put so many laws on the books that they can pick anybody up off the street with a good chance they've broken some arkane, obscure, pointless regulation. Pretty soon breathing will be illegal since CO2 is destroying the planet.

  • ides_of_march

    The Rockefeller laws are ridiculous with small time users winding up with more jail time than killers. Throwing some annoying but harmless pot heads in jail only serves to turn them into hardened criminals. It's a waste of money to incarcerate all these people too.



    I am for going much easier on the users while increasing penalties for dealers and traffickers. In fact, I'd hang them like they do in Asia.

  • Felix Hoenikker

    "And Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos is threatening to keep his members out of the chamber unless Republicans get "a sufficient amount of time" to study the bill."



    Elected officials actually read those things?

    ~$1T stimulus packages get a pass, I guess.

  • Think2wice

    "...unless Republicans get "a sufficient amount of time" to study the bill."



    I call Shenanigans!

  • nicemarmot

    I don't think most Republicans will ever understand that keeping a large percentage of your population in prison is usually a bad plan.

  • Jen S

    Wait, don't we want to "coddle the criminals and put them back on the streets"? Isn't that the point??

  • Outter Burrougher

    two hundred fifty thousand million (250,000,000,000)? i don't think that's right

  • TheKlaus

    I don't think that's a type-o. I think New York really spends that much on jailin'

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