
Way back in the spring of 1973, New York State Legislators passed a set of very strict laws to wage war on drugs. These laws are commonly referred to as the "Rockefeller Drug Laws", named after Governor Nelson Rockefeller. These laws were created to severely punish the people who were dealing large amounts of drugs, and contributing to the growing decay of society. These laws made the possession of a fairly decent amount of narcotics have the same penalty for a second degree murder. Up to 25 years in prison! These laws also made the punishments for very small amounts of drugs very strict, usually including jailtime. These were the people who were getting arrested under these laws, not the so called "kingpins". The Rockefeller laws gave New York the toughest drug laws in the nation. Oh great that will cure New York's drug problem, phew. This acts as a deterrent and nobody does drugs anymore. Glad that's settled.
Come on, you didn't believe me did you? You know what these laws have led to?
"As of 2008, approximately 14,000 people are locked up for drug offenses in New York State prisons, representing nearly 38% of the prison population and costing New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars every year."
(http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/newyork/rockefellerd/)
Hundreds of millions of dollars. Every Year. Good use of tax money? I don't personally think so.
These laws take all discretion away from judges. The law states that it is the what drug was possessed, and how much of it, that dictates the penalty for the crime. This meant that any first time offender could face the same penalty than a dealer or life long junkie. No matter how you feel about drugs, you can't possibly think that's fair.
"The Rockefeller Drug Laws restrict the ability of judges to divert people using drugs into community-based programs, like drug treatment, which has proven to be far more effective and cheaper than prison at reducing drug use and abuse. Mandatory minimums give prosecutors unbalanced power over people charged with drug offenses. Unlike decisions made by judges, prosecutors' decisions under mandatory minimum sentencing structures are not subject to judicial oversight.
(http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/newyork/rockefellerd/)
Come on, really!? Restricts the ability of judges to divert people to community based programs.
Oh here's Johnny Firstoffense. He has never been arrested before. His father and mother were brutally murdered last fall. Johnny became deeply depressed and started to use heroin. Johnny was arrested for possession of a very large amount of heroin. Well, because of good ol' Nelly Rockefeller I can't try and help this poor kid by sending him to therapy or rehab. What the hell, 25 years in the slammer will straighten him out right?
Wrong. Johnny Firstoffense becomes Johnny Hardenedcriminal after about three months in prison. When he is released, if he ever is, he will not be able to get a job, or ever get his life back on track. He will most likely become a junkie again his first day back on the street.
Drugs are bad. Period. These laws though, are worse. There are a lot of reasons that people do drugs, and taking away the discretion of a judge is downright un-American. Drug users need to be treated, and assimilated back into society, not just thrown into jail.
Come on, you didn't believe me did you? You know what these laws have led to?
"As of 2008, approximately 14,000 people are locked up for drug offenses in New York State prisons, representing nearly 38% of the prison population and costing New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars every year."
(http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/newyork/rockefellerd/)
Hundreds of millions of dollars. Every Year. Good use of tax money? I don't personally think so.
These laws take all discretion away from judges. The law states that it is the what drug was possessed, and how much of it, that dictates the penalty for the crime. This meant that any first time offender could face the same penalty than a dealer or life long junkie. No matter how you feel about drugs, you can't possibly think that's fair.
"The Rockefeller Drug Laws restrict the ability of judges to divert people using drugs into community-based programs, like drug treatment, which has proven to be far more effective and cheaper than prison at reducing drug use and abuse. Mandatory minimums give prosecutors unbalanced power over people charged with drug offenses. Unlike decisions made by judges, prosecutors' decisions under mandatory minimum sentencing structures are not subject to judicial oversight.
(http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/newyork/rockefellerd/)
Come on, really!? Restricts the ability of judges to divert people to community based programs.
Oh here's Johnny Firstoffense. He has never been arrested before. His father and mother were brutally murdered last fall. Johnny became deeply depressed and started to use heroin. Johnny was arrested for possession of a very large amount of heroin. Well, because of good ol' Nelly Rockefeller I can't try and help this poor kid by sending him to therapy or rehab. What the hell, 25 years in the slammer will straighten him out right?
Wrong. Johnny Firstoffense becomes Johnny Hardenedcriminal after about three months in prison. When he is released, if he ever is, he will not be able to get a job, or ever get his life back on track. He will most likely become a junkie again his first day back on the street.
Drugs are bad. Period. These laws though, are worse. There are a lot of reasons that people do drugs, and taking away the discretion of a judge is downright un-American. Drug users need to be treated, and assimilated back into society, not just thrown into jail.
(picture: South Park, Comedy Central...come on you've seen it before)
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