DON'T WEAKEN ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS

Just because Michigan is making the mistake of stepping away from mandatory
sentencing does not mean that New York should. The streets of New York are
the safest they have been in 30 years due to the Rockefeller drug laws of
the early 1970s. Yes, it has taken this long, but the desired effect has
finally been achieved.

The idea that money will be saved is an illusion. Prison is not for
first-time offenders who have committed first-time drug offenses. Many
inmates in our system have records longer than your left arm, and prison is
the only alternative left. What would we do when treatment programs fail
for low-level drug dealers? Prison would be the answer. Not only will we
have wasted money in the attempt to reform these individuals, but they will
go to prison anyhow.

Money is already being spent in the attempt to divert these people when
they are young and curb their nefarious conduct. Why should the taxpayer be
overburdened and forced to pay for even more programs? Numerous studies on
anti-drug programs, such as DARE, have shown that they do not work.

A small percentage of these offenders would be rehabilitated, but not
enough to make a noticeable difference. For every drug dealer who goes to
prison, there is another one to take his place. The best way to control the
problem is to get the problem off the street. Why compound the problem by
putting drug dealers back into the community in an uncontrolled environment?

Drug dealers need to be dealt with harshly. Drugs lead to murder, rape,
assault, burglary, robbery and a host of other crimes. The safest place for
drug dealers is in prison - both for themselves and for society.

If New York steps away from mandatory drug sentencing laws, the state will
ultimately pay with higher rates of crime and more violent crime.

Bill Morgan

Gasport