Pubdate: Sun, 08 Apr 2001 Source: New Haven Register (CT) Copyright: 2001, New Haven Register Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1281 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292 Author: Rick Scavetta GREEN PARTY ASSAILS STATE'S DRUG LAWS AS UNFAIR NEW HAVEN — At a Green Party forum Saturday afternoon, Alderman Jelani Lawson, D-2, said the state's drug laws unfairly target minorities in a failing war on narcotics. Lawson rattled off state law and drug offense statistics for about two dozen New Haven County Greens gathered at Green Party headquarters on Park Street. Under state law, drug offenders arrested near schools get longer sentences. Because urban areas like New Haven have a higher school density, drug arrests in the city carry stiffer penalties than in the suburbs, Lawson said. "A person in New Haven gets a worse deal," Lawson said. "Ninety-five percent of New Haven is covered by mandatory minimum drug sentencing." With blacks and Latinos making up much of the urban population, the school proximity laws also jail more minorities than whites, Lawson said. According to a July 2000 state Department of Corrections report, 12,657 of the state's 17,459 prisoners were either black or Hispanic, roughly two-thirds of the prison population. Lawson, 26, is also executive director for A Better Way Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates a public health approach to drug problems. Lawson said he spends much of his time educating political minded groups like the Greens, hoping to develop support to change Connecticut's drug laws. The event was one of several forums being held by the Green Party's Community Issues Committee to learn more about political issues that affect New Haven residents, party member Jon Halle said. "The drug war is a natural for us, the Green Party is opposed to the war on drugs," Halle said. The Green Party platform under presidential candidate Ralph Nader called for an end to the war on drugs, and the release of non-violent drug offenders. The party also suggests the decriminalization of drug possession and regulating drug distribution. During the first forum Feb. 24, University of Massachusetts economics professor Rick Wolf, the Green Party's 1985 mayoral candidate, spoke about Yale's relationship with the city. Next Saturday, the topic of the forum will be recent problems at New Haven public schools. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart