Drug law reforms backed by bishops

The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the state's bishops in matters of public policy, has commended the New York State Legislature for reaching an agreement last week to amend the state's so-called Rockefeller drug laws.

The Conference also applauded Gov. George Pataki for making drug sentencing reform a priority of his administration, as well as Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, for bringing their houses together.

The Conference urged all parties to continue to seek ways to make the state's criminal justice policies more just for non-violent drug offenders, who would be better served by treatment than by incarceration.

'Historic step'

"The agreement was historic and an excellent first step toward final reform of the draconian Rockefeller drug laws," said Richard E. Barnes, executive director of the Catholic Conference. "The bishops have long supported comprehensive reform, and they recognize the value of this legislation."

The bishops have said that reform of the drug laws must be based on four principles: a reduction of sentencing provisions, judicial review of current sentences where a miscarriage of justice may have occurred, judicial discretion to divert non-violent offenders into drug treatment programs and sufficient funding for drug treatment for addicted offenders.

The agreement reached by the Legislature addresses the first two of those principles by sharply reducing the lengths of the mandatory sentences in the most severe cases, doubling the threshold amounts of drugs that lead to the sentences and allowing some current convicts to petition for early release based on the new sentencing guidelines.

However, the agreement did not include judicial discretion or any new funding for alternatives-to-incarceration programs.

'Heartened'

"We agree with Senator Bruno, who noted that the new legislation 'changes people's lives' for the better," Barnes said. "And we were heartened by his subsequent comment that 'there is more to be done, and we're going to get there.'

"Likewise, our feelings are echoed by Speaker Silver, who said that while the deal "isn't everything we wanted,' he believes 'the climate here has changed.'

"The Conference will continue to work with both houses to reach the ultimate goal of complete reform that both leaders clearly have committed to support."

(The Rockefeller drug laws were named for Nelson Rockefeller, who was governor when they were enacted. They have been criticized for years for such things as sentencing low-level, non-violent drug users to long prison terms rather than to treatment programs that could end their drug dependence.)

(12/16/04)