NEW YORK'S DRUG LAWS

To the Editor:

Your Aug. 23 editorial "Full Employment Prisons" points out that upstate
legislators whose districts derive economic benefits from large prison
populations may oppose reforming New York State's drug laws.

But there is also reason for optimism. Despite this year's messy budget
talks, Gov. George E. Pataki and the State Assembly have presented
proposals to reform these drug laws, which are the country's harshest. If
all concerned work in good faith toward a law that substantially reduces
the number of nonviolent, low-level drug offenders in prison -- 22,000 last
year -- comprehensive drug-law reform should pass this year.

EVAN A. DAVIS President, Association of the Bar of the City of New York

New York, Aug. 23, 2001