Pataki signs drug law reform bill

[Mizmoon]

ALBANY, N.Y. -- About 540 drug dealers and users convicted under the state's Rockefeller drug laws will be able to appeal their sentences under a bill signed into law by Gov. George Pataki.

The law signed Tuesday night will allow those convicted of nonviolent Class A-2 felonies that include possession and sale of narcotics the chance to petition for resentencing and early release.

Last December, Pataki signed legislation scaling back some of the mandatory sentencing for drug offenses. Under that law, 446 inmates serving time for A-1 felonies - more serious than A-2 felonies - were allowed to petition for a reduction in their mandatory sentences.

The reforms apply to laws passed in 1973 and 1974 under former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, who pushed for the maximum life sentences and other harsh punishments for drug offenders during an era when inner cities in the state were being inundated by heroin addiction.

There are now 14,503 people serving sentences for felony drug crimes in New York state prisons. That's out of a total prison population of 62,739 as of Aug. 1, Department of Correctional Services spokeswoman Linda Foglia said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ny--pataki-druglaw0831aug31,0,7728870.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[alkaline9]

1. wow! good for NY

Drug possession should be decriminalized. I'm amazed that over 20% of inmates in state prisons are for drug offenses though.

[AzDar]

2. Rockefeller laws are/were Draconian....Good on Pataki! n/t