Pubdate: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2001 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Author: Ed Perkins Times Staff Writer WAR ON DRUGS DISCOURAGING Former U.S. Attorney Speaks Out Having seen the federal war on drugs firsthand, former U.S. Attorney Daniel J. French isn't sure it's working. "If you judge the war on drugs by the number of people using narcotics. it would be difficult to say we're winning the war on drugs," Mr French said. Although Mr. French stopped short of saying the war was lost, he said prosecutors and police take groups of drug dealers off the streets only to see others take their place. "You could draw the conclusion we are an employment agency for new drug dealers," Mr. French said. Mr. French, a LaFargeville (NY) Central School graduate, spent nearly two years as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York which encompasses 32 of the state's 62 counties, and was an assistant U.S. attorney for two years before that. He also had the opportunity to see federal drug cases as a law clerk for former U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary S. Pooler, who now sits in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. As U.S. attorney, Mr. French's jurisdiction spanned an area between the Pennsylvania and Canadian borders, west of Syracuse NY and east to the Albany NY area. He spoke out on the nation's drug policies, and prosecutions his office has handled, as he left office effective June 1, as requested by the Bush administration in Washington, D.C. Mr French, a Democrat, said he would have liked to finish out his four year term as U.S attorney, but he understands his appointment to the job was part of a political process. He added that he knew a new administration might not adhere to a tradition of letting U.S. attorneys serve out their terms before appointing replacements. "This is a contact sport," said Mr. French, who on July 9 becomes a partner in Green & Seifer, Syracuse, a law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, and environmental law. Mr. French said he would like to take part in selecting and promoting future candidates for public office. He did not rule out the possibility of running for public office someday. "Would I consider running? Absolutely," Mr. French said. Mr French is no stranger to politics. He was executive assistant to U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1991 and 1992 and was acting in deputy staff director at the U. S. Senate Committee on Finance in 1994. He was also on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works from 1988 to 1991. Reflecting on drug prosecutions during his tenure, Mr. French said he believes rehabilitation is part of the answer. He called for more resources for treatment and outreach. He did see successes, he said. "If we can convince one young person not to engage in narcotics trafficking, that's a win," Mr. French said. He also cited the "Weed and Seed" program that targets high crime areas to reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity. It is designed to "weed" out criminals by concentrated enforcement and "seed" the area with human service programs. The program has improved some neighborhoods and driven criminals out, Mr. French said. At the same time, Mr. French acknowledged the program is not a cure all. "They've probably moved somewhere else; I don't think we've stopped them," Mr French said, referring to criminals. The former prosecutor also cited "extraordinary" powers U.S. attorneys have to link as many as 25 to 30 people to a drug conspiracy, which calls for longer prison sentences, ranging from the top of an organization to dealers on street corners. State sentences for drug offenses are generally less, he said. Mr. French said discretion was needed in prosecuting conspiracies: he wanted to take out the heads of drug organizations. "Tell me who's truly distributing these narcotics," Mr. French said. At the same time, he said, a balance has to be struck on whether to leave drug cases for state prosecution or make them federal cases, which often means tougher sentencing. There has been some resistance in federal law enforcement agencies to allow local prosecution, he said. The Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation like to work on drug cases, which have a high conviction rate, he said. Job promotions can be based on statistics, He said. Mr. French credited U.S. Customs, the DEA and the other federal agencies for wanting to do their jobs well, but he said time has to be spent to settle disputes among them. "It is a constant struggle," Mr. French said. He believes the FBI should do more with white collar crime and less with drug cases. Drug cases comprise a big part of dockets in U.S. District Court. At the some time, Mr. French said, lengthy jail sentences levied in federal courts have meant a "staggering" increase in prison populations. "I don't know what the solution is," He said. Federal judges are restricted in sentencing by federal guidelines. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe