Pubdate: Fri, 15 Mar 2002 Source: Newsday (NY) Copyright: 2002 Newsday Inc. Contact: http://www.newsday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308 Author: Robert T. Johnson, Bronx District Attorney Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n333/a10.html FIGHTING DRUGS Robert Gangi's article "Pataki Must Bring Real Drug Law Reform" [Viewpoints, Feb. 26] contains the usual misstatements that seem to prevent any attempt at a reasoned debate over reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Gangi writes that New York's prosecutors have "aggressively opposed any [reform] proposal, even those modest in scape." In reality, many prosecutors, including myself, have repeatedly stated that we could support measures that address the small number of cases wherein reform is warranted. But having seen crime rates tumble and neighborhoods grow safer because of a tough combination of anti-drug strategies, which include both treatment and incarceration, we also think that some caution is in order. What is particularly troubling is the way in which many "reform" advocates - and some editorial boards - simply ignore inconvenient facts that get in the way of their assumptions. Just a few such facts: Prosecutors send thousands of drug offenders to treatment, not incarceration. In the Bronx alone, we did this in 2,600 cases in the last two years. The overwhelming majority of those who are now imprisoned for drug offenses are drug dealers, not drug possessors, many of whom have long criminal records. Drug dealing is intimately associated with such evils as turf wars and the intimidation of entire neighborhoods. Gangi, who also raises the specter of racial bias, notes none of these factors. He also fails to admit that our minority neighborhoods will bear the primary risks of a flawed change. It would be refreshing to see some real discussion of an issue that is more complex than many would like to believe. Robert T. Johnson - --- MAP posted-by: Josh