Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 Source: Daily Gazette (NY) Copyright: 2001 The Gazette Newspapers Contact: http://www.dailygazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/105 Author: John R. Dunne Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) DAS DESPERATE TO STOP DRUG-LAW REFORM The reported claim by Robert Carney, president of the New York State District Attorneys Association (June 20), that the Assembly drug-law reform bill is "a step toward the decriminalizing of drugs," is absurd and irresponsible and their latest attempt to derail the state Legislature from meaningful reform. To the contrary, the bill is a modest but balanced reform proposal that would virtually keep intact the current harsh maximum prison sentences for the most serious drug offenders, who would still face terms of up to life in prison. This claim of the district attorneys mischaracterizes the Assembly bill and is simply a desperate power play in their misguided mission to maintain control of the sentencing process. They oppose the reasonable proposal that sentencing discretion be given back to judges to determine whether, and for how long, a offender should go to prison. And, except for the most serious drug offenders and those who have previously been convicted of a prior violent felony, judges would have the ability to divert drug-addicted offenders to drug treatment, thereby saving the state tens of millions of dollars while reducing recidivism. Sentencing discretion should be restored to judges, where it rightfully belongs. A fundamental principle of our system of justice is that district attorneys prosecute and judges judge the appropriate sentence that will protect community safety. Justice will be better served when judges regain the right to make sentencing decisions, as the Assembly bill would enable them to do. JOHN R. DUNNE, Albany The writer is a former state senator and chairman of the Campaign for Effective Criminal Justice. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake