ADVOCATES CALL FOR REFORM OF ROCKEFELLER-ERA DRUG LAWS

ALBANY -- Hundreds of people, including church groups, students, teachers,
civil-rights leaders, social service workers, union and community
organizations, gathered in a cold rain on the Capitol steps Tuesday to urge
repeal of the state's strict drug laws.

"Thousands of people coming out on a cold rainy day to register their
protest and their objections to these laws, to call on their state's
leaders to 'Drop The Rock' is significant," said Robert Gangi, executive
director of the Correctional Association of New York, referring to the
Rockefeller drug law. "It's important that the governor and legislative
leaders hear the message."

The Rockefeller Drug Laws establish mandatory minimum sentencing of 15
years to life and a maximum of 25 to life for possession of more than 4
ounces of a controlled substance.

The Assembly, Senate and Gov. George E. Pataki all have proposed changing
the laws, but there's no agreement yet on how it should be done.

Advocates for reform say that the state's prisons house thousands of
nonviolent drug offenders who should instead be receiving rehabilitation
and treatment, which they say, would save money.

With more than 19,000 drug offenders locked up in New York State, at a cost
of $32,000 each, advocates say that money is better spent on rehabilitation
costing $21,000 per participant per year.

Advocates say the Rockefeller Drug Laws have eliminated the discretionary
role of judges and are racially biased.

"The sense will come when lawmakers realize the road to problems are
medical, they are sociological but they are not criminal," said Steve
Healey, 33, of Rochester, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Monroe County.

However, opponents to change say that the charges of racial bias don't hold up.

"The crime rate drives that," said Senator Dale Volker, R-Depew, Erie
County, referring to the charge by the Correctional Association that 94
percent of the 19,000 people in jail under the New York's drug laws are
African American and Latino. While many opponents of changing the laws
agree that more rehabilitation resources are necessary, judges do have
discretion on offering plea bargains to some offenders.

"Any non-violent addicted person may be diverted from prison to treatment,"
said Steuben County District Attorney John Tunney, president of the state
of the District Attorneys' Association. "The only real limit on treatment
options is a lack of treatment resources, particularly in upstate rural areas."