GIVE JUDGES MORE DISCRETION IN DRUG CASES

Your article, "Rockefeller laws decried by ex-drug czar'' (April 25),
documented the remarks of former U.S. drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey
at a recent news conference at which he expressed his conviction that
treatment and prevention, not incarceration, are the way to address
drug addiction and crime in our communities.

Though not reported, he also urged another key element of any drug
law reform -- restoration of sentencing discretion to judges. He
stated, "We want power in the hands of judges. We don't want DAs and
investigating officers to exercise unilateral authority over who goes
into treatment and who goes to prison. This is the job of judges.''
That's why he endorsed the Assembly proposal that would give judges
more discretion to sentence a wider group of individuals to
alternatives to prison with the promise of reduced recidivism and
saved lives.

As McCaffrey stated, the Rockefeller Drug Laws are a "relic'' and an
antiquated solution to the drug problem in New York. I hope Gov.
George Pataki will have the political will to make history this year
by spearheading true bipartisan legislation that brings fairness back
to our courtroom as well as safety to our communities.

JOHN R. DUNNE
Chair
Campaign for Effective Criminal Justice
Albany