Drug law reform urged by three major faiths

Former State Senator John Dunne, a parishioner of St. James Church in Chatham and a sponsor of the laws who has since reversed his position, joined religious leaders for a press conference:

* Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of the Albany Diocese;

* Rabbi Moshe Bomzer of Congregation Beth Abraham-Jacob in Albany;

* Rev. Clarence Grant of Convent Ave. Baptist Church in Harlem;

* Imam Mokhtar Maghraoui of the Islamic Community of Troy; and

* Rev. Dr. Glen Missick of the African-American Council of the Reformed Church in America, based in New York City.

Objections

"My faith guided me in trying to find the right response to people's needs," said Mr. Dunne of his original sponsorship of the laws, admitting: "I may not have been listening too well 29 years ago when the Rockefeller drugs laws were adopted."

The former senator said that in the spirit of conscience inspired by his hero, St. Thomas More, religious leaders must come together to seek the justice not currently found in those laws.

'Clarion call'

Mr. Dunne added that there is plenty of room in prison treatment programs for offenders. Currently, there are 700 to 800 empty beds in the treatment system. However, he noted, more funding is needed for treatment programs outside prison walls.

Reforming laws

When people create laws, he noted, they must also review those laws to ensure they are accomplishing their intended purpose.

Some of the consequences of the Rockefeller drug laws, he said, have been spending billions of dollars to needlessly incarcerate thousands of people and introducing those prisoners to the danger of jail, "a society which they would have avoided at all costs.

"Justice and compassion are not opposite sides of the same coin; they are the same coin," he added.

'Inhuman' laws

* a mother who has been imprisoned since her now-teenage daughter was five years old;

* another mother who was pregnant when she was sentenced to prison and had only a year with the child she delivered in jail before it was taken away;

* a father who is watching his daughter grow up from prison; and

* a woman raising five children alone while her husband serves a lengthy sentence.

"The picture I have painted is unmistakably clear: The effects of these grossly unfair laws on families in this state is disgraceful," Rev. Grant stated. He called on Gov. George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Speaker Sheldon Silver to make immediate changes, noting: "Justice too long delayed is justice denied."

Muslim view

Protecting society doesn't just mean punishing criminals, he noted, but also necessitates healing, repentance and forgiveness. Punishments must be proportionate to offenses, or else "we have reacted with injustice to [offenders'] injustice...and we only create more feelings of rancor toward society."

The problem with the current drug laws, he added, is that they don't distinguish between sick people in need of help "and the kingpin who preys on our children."

Racism

"The Rockefeller drug laws have deeply impacted communities of color," Rev. Missick stated. "Racial minorities and the poor are much more likely to be convicted of drug charges, and less likely to have access to treatment or quality [legal] representation. Estimates claim 50 percent of children in trouble with the juvenile justice system have a parent in prison."

Bishop Hubbard said on behalf of the group, "We feel this year is the right year to act. We don't want to be back here next year."

(05-16-02) [[In-content Ad]]