Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jul 2006 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2006 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Author: Anita Marton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) TREATMENT FOR ADDICTS To the Editor: The Rockefeller drug law reforms already enacted provide important relief from some of the harshest sentencing laws in the country ("Prosecutor Questions Drug Law Reforms," news article, June 27). But although 70 to 80 percent of those charged in the criminal justice system have a drug or alcohol problem, these reforms did not enable even one additional addicted person to be sent to treatment instead of prison. A study conducted by the Legal Action Center found that thousands of people who have never been convicted of any violent offense are incarcerated on drug charges every year, some on first offenses, some on second. Many are addicted and committed low-level offenses. Sending them to treatment instead would save lives and, according to another of our studies, $160 million a year. We hope that the next round of drug law reform will enable judges and prosecutors to send more nonviolent addicted individuals to treatment instead of prison. Anita Marton Vice President Legal Action Center New York, June 29, 2006 - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman