Pubdate: Sun, 13 Oct 2002
Source: Star-Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2002sStar-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.stargazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1005
Author: Heather Hare

NEW LAWS PROPOSED IN DRUG FIGHT

Group Opposes Plea Bargaining

TIOGA CENTER -- When 19-year-old Steven Steiner Jr. died of a prescription 
drug overdose almost two years ago, that tragic moment sent his father on a 
mission to crack down on drug dealers.

Tioga Center resident Steven Steiner Sr., founder of Dads and Mad Moms 
Against Drug Dealers, is now turning his attention to New York's drug laws. 
He said the 30-year-old policies are ineffective.

"The laws aren't working when you're plea bargaining them out the door," 
Steiner said.

He posted his new proposal, Stevie's Law, recently on his organization's 
Web site, www.dammadd.org. He said the proposal, which is based on federal 
laws, would take away the power prosecutors wield in drug cases and put it 
into the people's hands. It would set mandatory minimum sentences that 
aren't subject to plea bargains.

Broome County District Attorney Gerald F. Mollen said he recognizes the 
proposal's similarities to the federal system, but noted that even in that 
system prosecutors have some discretion in charging suspects.

"It's difficult to eliminate plea bargaining," Mollen said.

Nor would Mollen want that discretion eliminated, but he said he is in 
favor of a sentencing structure similar to the federal system. Stevie's Law 
proposes several other changes to the laws, one of which would make drug 
dealers liable for what happens to their customers. That means parents 
whose children die from overdoses could sue drug dealers just as family 
members have sued tobacco companies.

Another piece of the proposal would give extra time to those offenders who 
committed other crimes simultaneously. It would also give loopholes to 
first-time offenders if they comply with or aid law enforcement.

Detective Sgt. Patrick Isenburg, who supervises the Special Investigations 
Unit for the Broome County Sheriff's Department, said the proposal may 
remove the stigma associated with giving criminal information to police 
because everyone would give information to the police.

Stevie's Law also addresses dealing of prescription drugs by proposing an 
up-to-the-minute monitoring program. People couldn't go to multiple doctors 
to obtain large amounts of prescription medication undetected.

Stevie's Law also would make juvenile possession of tobacco illegal. 
Currently, anyone under 18 cannot legally buy tobacco but can smoke it.

Mollen said he opposes Steiner's tobacco proposal because it would tax the 
judicial system. He said there are better ways to deter underage smoking, 
such as the public health approach.
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