WAR ON DRUGS DISCOURAGING

Former U.S. Attorney Speaks Out

Having seen the federal war on drugs firsthand, former U.S. Attorney
Daniel J. French isn't sure it's working.

"If you judge the war on drugs by the number of people using
narcotics. it would be difficult to say we're winning the war on
drugs," Mr French said.

Although Mr. French stopped short of saying the war was lost, he said
prosecutors and police take groups of drug dealers off the streets
only to see others take their place.

"You could draw the conclusion we are an employment agency for new
drug dealers," Mr. French said.

Mr. French, a LaFargeville (NY) Central School graduate, spent nearly
two years as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York
which encompasses 32 of the state's 62 counties, and was an assistant
U.S. attorney for two years before that. He also had the opportunity
to see federal drug cases as a law clerk for former U.S. District
Court Judge Rosemary S. Pooler, who now sits in the 2nd U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals.

As U.S. attorney, Mr. French's jurisdiction spanned an area between
the Pennsylvania and Canadian borders, west of Syracuse NY and east
to the Albany NY area.

He spoke out on the nation's drug policies, and prosecutions his
office has handled, as he left office effective June 1, as requested
by the Bush administration in Washington, D.C.

Mr French, a Democrat, said he would have liked to finish out his
four year term as U.S attorney, but he understands his appointment to
the job was part of a political process. He added that he knew a new
administration might not adhere to a tradition of letting U.S.
attorneys serve out their terms before appointing replacements.

"This is a contact sport," said Mr. French, who on July 9 becomes a
partner in Green & Seifer, Syracuse, a law firm specializing in
mergers and acquisitions, and environmental law.

Mr. French said he would like to take part in selecting and promoting
future candidates for public office. He did not rule out the
possibility of running for public office someday.

"Would I consider running? Absolutely," Mr. French said.

Mr French is no stranger to politics. He was executive assistant to
U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1991 and 1992 and was acting in
deputy staff director at the U. S. Senate Committee on Finance in
1994. He was also on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works from 1988 to 1991.

Reflecting on drug prosecutions during his tenure, Mr. French said he
believes rehabilitation is part of the answer. He called for more
resources for treatment and outreach.

He did see successes, he said.

"If we can convince one young person not to engage in narcotics
trafficking, that's a win," Mr. French said.

He also cited the "Weed and Seed" program that targets high crime
areas to reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity. It is
designed to "weed" out criminals by concentrated enforcement and
"seed" the area with human service programs.

The program has improved some neighborhoods and driven criminals out,
Mr. French said.

At the same time, Mr. French acknowledged the program is not a cure all.

"They've probably moved somewhere else; I don't think we've stopped
them," Mr French said, referring to criminals.

The former prosecutor also cited "extraordinary" powers U.S.
attorneys have to link as many as 25 to 30 people to a drug
conspiracy, which calls for longer prison sentences, ranging from the
top of an organization to dealers on street corners. State sentences
for drug offenses are generally less, he said.

Mr. French said discretion was needed in prosecuting conspiracies: he
wanted to take out the heads of drug organizations.

"Tell me who's truly distributing these narcotics," Mr. French said.

At the same time, he said, a balance has to be struck on whether to
leave drug cases for state prosecution or make them federal cases,
which often means tougher sentencing. There has been some resistance
in federal law enforcement agencies to allow local prosecution, he
said.

The Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
like to work on drug cases, which have a high conviction rate, he
said. Job promotions can be based on statistics, He said.

Mr. French credited U.S. Customs, the DEA and the other federal
agencies for wanting to do their jobs well, but he said time has to
be spent to settle disputes among them.

"It is a constant struggle," Mr. French said.

He believes the FBI should do more with white collar crime and less
with drug cases.

Drug cases comprise a big part of dockets in U.S. District Court. At
the some time, Mr. French said, lengthy jail sentences levied in
federal courts have meant a "staggering" increase in prison
populations.

"I don't know what the solution is," He said.

Federal judges are restricted in sentencing by federal guidelines.