State Senate Republicans are voicing outrage today following Governor Paterson's morning press conference announcing an agreement among Democrats to repeal most of the Rockefeller-era drug laws. Republican State Senator Martin Golden, whose district stretches from Bay Ridge to Gerritsen Beach, tells the Times Union the reform will "coddle the criminals and put them back on the streets." Others derided the repeal's treatment programs as a "Get out of Jail Free Card." And Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos is threatening to keep his members out of the chamber unless Republicans get "a sufficient amount of time" to study the bill.
At this morning's press conference at the State Capitol, Paterson expressed confidence there will be enough votes to pass the measure in the Senate, where Democrats hold a narrow majority. (The bill is included in the budget package for the fiscal year beginning April 1st.) Paterson told reporters, "Drug abuse is an illness and more and more over the years we're finding that it's a treatable illness," and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "Mandatory minimum sentences are a one-size-fits-all approach that does not work."
The final agreement among Democrats (outlined here) gives judges discretion to place addicted first and second-time drug offenders into alcohol and substance abuse treatment, and makes treatment available to the non-violent addicted offenders who commit a range of other crimes. According to the Times Union, the judges will also be able to dismiss all charges or seal records of offenders who successfully complete treatment, and punish them in the event of relapse or reoffense. And the agreement could grant freedom to offenders who remain in prison under the old laws.
Manhattan Democratic Senator Eric Schneiderman says the cost of implementing the reforms is being negotiated, but the state may use $67 million of federal stimulus money to expand treatment programs, among other things. And once fully implemented, Democratic lawmakers estimate the reforms will save taxpayers $250 million a year from the cost of housing prisoners.
