Advocates Cautiously Optimistic about Rockefeller Drug Law Reform

As reported today in the New York Times, a tentative agreement, on principle, to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws was reached late last night by New York Gov. David Paterson and the Legislature. Advocates are cautiously optimistic, but point out that negotiations continue and that no final deal has been reached.

“This agreement is a good sign that progress is being made to enact real reform, but it is not final, and meaningful reform will be determined by the details,” said Gabriel Sayegh of the Drug Policy Alliance. “The final deal must include the core components of meaningful reform: restoration of judicial discretion in drug cases including 2nd time offenses, sentencing reform, expansion of community drug treatment and alternatives to incarceration, and retroactive sentencing relief for those serving unjust, long sentences for low-level offenses.”

The agreement does not represent repeal of the laws, but rather reform, and comes on the heels of a spirited protest outside of Gov. Paterson’s New York City office yesterday where more than two hundred people, including Russell Simmons and Reverend Calvin Butts, called on the governor to keep his word and reform the laws.

“I stood with the governor in 2002 when he was arrested protesting these laws, so I know he believes in meaningful reform,” said Anthony Papa, communications specialist for the Drug Policy Alliance who served 12 years under the Rockefeller Drug Laws before then-Gov. George Pataki granted him clemency. “The deal has to be done, and done right. New York’s experiment with this criminal justice approach has failed. It’s time for the governor and Legislative leaders to take the first step toward a public health and safety approach to drugs.”