Reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws

New York must reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws, enacted in 1973, mandate extremely harsh prison terms for the possession or sale of small amounts of drugs. Intended to target drug kingpins, most of the people incarcerated under these laws are convicted of low-level, nonviolent offenses. Many of the thousands of New Yorkers in prison under these laws suffer from substance abuse problems; many others struggle with issues related to homelessness, mental illness or unemployment.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws create stark racial disparities in prison populations and exact an enormous financial toll on all of New York State.

After 36 years, the chance for true reform of these laws is greater this year than it ever has been.

This past weekend, Governor Paterson and leaders in the State Senate and Assembly finalized an agreement to untie judges’ hands in the courtroom and to expand drug treatment programs instead of imprisonment for drug users as part of the state budget, which must be approved by April 1.

Now the bill must pass the Assembly and the Senate by Wednesday to move to the Governor's desk for his signature.

Send a free fax to Senate Majority Leader Smith and your State Senator urging them to put 36 years of failed Rockefeller Drug Laws behind us, once and for all.

To find out more information about the Rockefeller Drug Laws, click here.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: It's Time to Reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

The Rockefeller Drug Laws represent a monumental failure of public policy--and a betrayal of basic fairness and justice.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws reform legislation currently in the budget offers a sensible--and desperately needed--change to New York's approach to drug policy.

The package takes important strides in restoring judicial discretion and expanding drug treatment programs to cut costs to the state at a time when New York faces a budget crisis unlike any in recent history.

We must not allow the Rockefeller Drug Laws reform package fail this year.

The whole country is watching to see what New York will do and I am counting on you to be on the right side of this historic moment for our state.

It's smart for our budget, sound public policy, and important for New York's families and communities.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 21, 2009

Background Information

This year is the best chance New York has seen to achieve true reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

Since the enactment of the laws in 1973, nearly 200,000 prison sentences have been handed down for drug offenses. Despite 36 years of failure, New York continues to send too many of its citizens to prison for unduly long and harsh terms.

The effects of these laws have been devastating on many low-income communities of color in New York State. Ninety percent of those in prison for drug offenses are black or Latino, despite the fact that studies show they use and buy drugs at the same rates as whites. Nearly 25,000 children have been orphaned as a result of the laws and up to 60 percent of people who have been in prison remain unemployed a year after their release. Our communities can no longer tolerate these laws.

New York State faces its largest budget deficit in history. With a comprehensive reform of the drug laws, New York State could save hundreds of millions of dollars in incarceration costs that could be invested in the programs and communities that will actually be effective in decreasing drug abuse and drug crimes.
If we do not act this year, we could lose this historic opportunity to turn New York’s drug laws in the right direction, towards a public health model.

For more information on the Rockefeller Drug Laws, click here.