Pubdate: Wed, 03 Mar 1999
Source: Daily Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 1999 - The Gazette Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.dailygazette.com/
Author: William F. Hammond - Gazette Reporter

DRUG LAWS ASSAILED

Hundreds Protest Mandatory Prison Terms At Demonstration 
On Steps Of State Capitol

ALBANY - Opponents of the state's Rockefeller-era drug laws
demonstrated Tuesday on the steps of the Capitol, arguing that
thousands of small-time criminals are serving lengthy prison terms
when they should be receiving treatment for their addictions instead.

"It might be cold outside, but not as cold as the Rockefeller drug
laws," the Rev. Al Sharpton told a crowd of about 400, many of whom
traveled from New York City and other parts of the state.

Many of the protesters were relatives of inmates, including the
families of two Schenectady brothers, Jeffrey and William Hilts, who
are both serving time in state prison for selling and possessing cocaine.

"I want my daddy to come home," said Jeffrey Hilts' 12-year-old son,
Jaheen, who lives with his grandmother, Mary Mortimore, and William
Hilts' 13-year-old daughter, Crystal.

Jaheen held a poster with his father's photograph and his sentence: 15
to 30 years. Jeffrey Hilts entered prison when his son was 5, and
won't be eligible for parole until the boy is 20.

Several speakers at the rally argued that such families should be
reunited.

"We want legislation that affects people in prison now," said Margaret
Ratner of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice. "We want
their sentences reviewed, and we want them out. We need to change
these laws totally."

As demonstrators cheered and chanted in the freezing March air, their
cause was gaining momentum in the warm corridors of the Capitol.

Several influential figures have come out in favor of reform,
including Chief Justice Judith Kaye of the Court of Appeals and
retired Republican legislators who were among the original sponsors of
the Rockefeller laws 26 years ago. "There's now wide consensus, even
on the part of the original proponents of the legislation . . . that
the laws have not accomplished their purpose," said Bishop Howard
Hubbard of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, who spoke at
Tuesday's rally. "They fail to make a distinction between . . . those
who are major kingpins in the drug trade and low-level, non-violent
offenders. . . . It's time to give more discretion to judges and
prosecutors."

"We are open to reviewing the Rockefeller drug laws," Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, said Tuesday. "We feel there are
some changes that could be made that would be helpful and
productive."

But Bruno made it clear that he envisions modest reforms. While
protestors outside called for freeing thousands of inmates, Bruno said
he believes no more than a few hundred deserve leniency.

"Some of the proponents of revising the law are overstating their
case," Bruno said. "They act as if it would empty the prisons. . .
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