EFFECTS OF LAW CHANGE UNKNOWN

Corrections Officials Wait To See Rockefeller Reform

ALBANY - State Department of Correctional Services officials have no
idea what effect, if any, recent changes to the so-called Rockefeller
drug laws will have on inmate population and staffing at the north
country's state prisons.

"Nobody would nave any idea said James B. Flateau, a Correctional
Services spokesman.

The reform measure, which Gov. George E. Pataki signed into law last
week, includes reducing sentences for nonviolent drug offenders,
allowing retroactive sentencing of the most egregious and unfair cases
of offenders sentenced under the existing laws, providing greater
access to drug treatment and reducing the weight thresholds for the
two highest felony levels of cocaine and heroin possession. The
reforms, which the state Legislature approved Dec. 7, go into effect
30 days after the measure is signed.

Legislative staffers estimate that approximately 400 inmates could
apply for resentencing under the reforms, which allow A-1 felony
offenders serving 15 to 15 years to life in prison to seek a lesser
term consistent with the changes included in the measure.

Until any applications for reduced sentences run their respective
courses, it will be impossible for anybody from DOCS to estimate how
many may be granted early release, Mr. Flateau said.

"That's up to judges, and we don't know what judges will do," he
said.

State Sen. James W. Wright, R-Watertown, said he doubts the reforms
will have any significant impact on staffing levels at the north
country's five state medium security prisons in Watertown, Cape
Vincent, Gouverneur and Ogdensburg. "This is a very focused repeal,"
he said.

Mr. Wright also pointed out that DOCS has been going through a
right-sizing of state prisons systemwide to reflect the overall
reduction in crime, particularly in the New York City area.

As a result of those moves, which took place in September, the
Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties facilities lost a combined 131
jobs, most of which were transferred to other prisons.

The Cape Vincent Correctional Facility lost 71 officers who had been
manning temporary positions; Ogdensburg's Riverview Correctional
Facility lost 62; and Watertown Correctional Facility lost 12.
Gouverneur and Ogdensburg correctional facilities gained five and nine
officers, respectively.

The transfers brought three of the facilities to their maximum
authorized staffing: 222 at Watertown and 221 at Cape Vincent and Riverview.