Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Shaila K. Dewan

DEBATING DRUG LAWS' REPAIR

This advertisement, called "Stolen Lives," urges changes to the 
Rockefeller-era drug laws. It was sponsored by the Center for Policy 
Reform, an affiliate of the Drug Policy Alliance, and was pulled off the 
air by two Spanish-language television stations in recent weeks after 
objections from Gov. George E. Pataki's top aides.

PRODUCER Off Center Productions

ON THE SCREEN Relatives of people in prison under the drug laws' mandatory 
sentences discuss their loved ones. "My son is a stranger to his father," 
one woman says.

THE SCRIPT An announcer says: "Thousands of New Yorkers have a family 
member who must complete an obligatory sentence of up to 25 years under the 
Rockefeller drug laws. These laws are some of the worst in the country, too 
expensive and too cruel. Governor Pataki's reforms will not reunite these 
families. Governor Pataki, we need real reform. New Yorkers are watching."

ACCURACY The governor's office says the highest sentence mandated by the 
laws is 15 years to life for class A-1 felony convictions, but judges can 
give sentences up to 25 years to life. According to the governor's office, 
587 people are in prison for such convictions, therefore the statement that 
thousands of New Yorkers have a family member in prison is a "shameless 
disregard for the truth." But about 19,000 people are in state prisons for 
drug offenses, and the Human Rights Watch estimates that 23,000 children 
have parents incarcerated for drug offenses.

The statement that the governor's proposal would not reunite "these 
families" could be misleading. Although the proposal would not change the 
fate of most of those incarcerated, 535 of the worst offenders could seek 
reduced sentences, according to the governor's staff, and 199 of those 
could be eligible for immediate release. The Center for Policy Reform has 
said that the statement refers to the people pictured in the ad, some of 
whose relatives would not be eligible for release under the plan.
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