Pubdate: Sun, 26 Aug 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Section: Editorial/Op-Ed
Author: Evan A. Davis
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1551/a09.html

NEW YORK'S DRUG LAWS

To the Editor:

Your Aug. 23 editorial "Full Employment Prisons" points out that upstate 
legislators whose districts derive economic benefits from large prison 
populations may oppose reforming New York State's drug laws.

But there is also reason for optimism. Despite this year's messy budget 
talks, Gov. George E. Pataki and the State Assembly have presented 
proposals to reform these drug laws, which are the country's harshest. If 
all concerned work in good faith toward a law that substantially reduces 
the number of nonviolent, low-level drug offenders in prison -- 22,000 last 
year -- comprehensive drug-law reform should pass this year.

EVAN A. DAVIS President, Association of the Bar of the City of New York

New York, Aug. 23, 2001
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