Dear ,

I urge you to return sentencing discretion to judges in all narcotics cases by repealing the Rockefeller Drug Laws which require harsh prison terms for even minor offenders.

It costs New York State over $500 million per year to warehouse approximately 15,500 prisoners under these statutes. Research shows that drug treatment is significantly more successful in reducing the crime associated with the narcotics trade than long-term imprisonment. Moreover, the Rockefeller Drug Laws are a form of institutional racism: approximately 92% of those incarcerated for drug offenses are people of color, despite research showing that a majority of drug users and sellers are white.

The drug laws have a particularly injurious effect on women. As of January 1, 2000, there were 3,508 women incarcerated in New York State prisons. Over 50% of them were incarcerated for drug offenses.

The Rockefeller Drug Laws break up families and devastate communities. Moreover, prisons have proven to be an ineffective intervention into the cycle of drug abuse and crime associated with the drug trade.

Groups and individuals from all walks of life- political and religious spokespeople, civic leaders, students, artists, academics, and newspaper editorial boards-have urged drug law repeal. I call upon you to publicly support the repeal of these ill-considered laws as laid out by Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry's Bill.

Repealing the Rockefeller Drug Laws, expanding alternatives to incarceration such as drug treatment, education and job training programs, and stopping the use of prison for drug offenders will effectively begin the process of rebuilding families, reconstructing communities and addressing the problems caused by drug abuse and drug-related crime and violence.

Sincerely,