Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 Source: New York Daily News (NY) Copyright: 2003 Daily News, L.P. Contact: http://www.nydailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/295 Author: Joe Mahoney, Daily News Albany Bureau Chief Cited: Correctional Association of New York http://www.corrassoc.org/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) DEMS PUT A RAP ON GOV'S DRUG-LAW FIX ALBANY - Gov. Pataki's reform fix for New York's ultratough drug laws won over rap mogul Russell Simmons, but Democrat lawmakers and some drug treatment advocates weren't too high on it. Pataki's revamped plan to remake the so-called Rockefeller drug laws would dramatically cut prison time for all nonviolent drug felons, making about 10,000 inmates eligible for sentence reductions. At the same time, Pataki called for beefing up penalties for predators who use children to sell drugs or serve as kingpins in narcotics gangs. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) signaled that the lower house would not pass Pataki's measure, saying it didn't give judges enough leeway in sentencing drug offenders. "We are most disappointed by the complete lack of judicial discretion and the absence of any drug treatment diversion provision ..." Silver said in a joint statement with Assemblyman Jeff Aubry (D-Queens), who chairs the Assembly Correction Committee. Simmons, who has led a high-profile lobbying effort against the Rockefeller drug laws, which were named for the governor in office when they were enacted, acknowledged Pataki's proposal isn't perfect. But he said the governor's plan is the best path for compromise. "I know how bad the law we have now is, and this is going to help 90% of the people in prison," Simmons said. Silver's rejection puzzled aides to the GOP governor, who had hoped the Democrats would have declared victory and helped end the 30-year era in which New York has had some of the toughest drug laws in the nation. "We've met them at least 98% of the way," Chauncey Parker, Pataki's criminal justice director, said in an interview last night. But some drug treatment advocates agreed with the Democrats' position that Pataki's plan falls short. Robert Gangi, director of the pro-inmate Correctional Association of New York, said of Simmons' support for the Pataki measure: "It's an example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake