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TOPIC: Let's discuss "Rockefeller drug laws"


Diamond

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Let's discuss "Rockefeller drug laws"
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Apparently, "Rockefeller drug laws" were statutes enacted in NY State by Nelson Rockefeller, a Republican, while he was Governor of New York State (who went onto becoming VP under President Gerald Ford). 

On Wikipedia: Rockefeller drug laws

The Rockefeller drug laws is the term used to denote the statutes dealing with the sale and possession of "narcotic" drugs in the New York State Penal Law. The laws are named after Nelson Rockefeller, who was the state's governor at the time the laws were adopted. Rockefeller, a staunch supporter of the bill containing the laws, signed it on May 8, 1973.

NY State Legislators under the leadership of Gov.Paterson have been working on emending this law in NY state.  Gov Paterson has done some good work in this regard.

Apparently, the NY law was then picked up by many states but they have also gone onto reform the law from what I am reading here:
Albany Reaches Deal to Repeal ’70s Drug Laws
New York’s drug sentencing laws, imposed during a heroin epidemic that was devastating urban areas nearly four decades ago, helped spur a nationwide trend toward mandatory sentences in drug crimes. But as many other states moved to roll back the mandatory minimum sentences in recent years, New York kept its laws on the books, leaving prosecutors with the sole discretion of whether offenders could be sent to treatment.

NY State has indeed put through some reform a year ago.
Drug law reforms in place (October 08, 2009)

Has your state still not emended the Nelson Rockefeller drug laws?  Have other states picked up on the reform measures that Gov.Paterson has accomplished last year?  Who in your state is working on reform to make the penalties more equitable and reformative?


-- Edited by Sanders on Saturday 6th of November 2010 06:01:49 PM

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Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010
Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010

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Administrator

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I am very familiar with this unfair and racist law.  It may have started in NY but it was Jay Rockerfeller (D WVA) and Joe Biden (D Delaware) that were responsible for the Senate version which is what passed.
This is why black folks need to leave the Democrats and start voting for Republicans because it was the Democrats who passed this law and its Democrats except for Shelia Jackson Lee and Hillary Rodham Clinton who keep it in place.
The Democrats used the excuse that they were actually helping black people with this law a great big lie it helped us alright helped send more black men to Prison then to college. 
The love of my life is serving life in prison for selling cocaine.  He didn't get twenty years he got life without the possibility of parole not for homicide or rape but selling drugs.  He has already served 22 years of that sentence.

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Diamond

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HMG, Sorry to hear that.

The law sure sounds very unequitable.  Do I like tough laws, yes, I do.  But I like equity and fairness across the board.

More people need to speek up on this.


HMG,   The U.S. law that you reference -- I searched for the U.S. law on this and cannot find -- can you share a reference?  I'd like to look it up and then write to the Reps. Thanks.

ps. - that would sound like S.### or some such number for Senate.  I tried in policy folders and Thomas by potential keys, and did google search by key words and names.. and cannot find..


-- Edited by Sanders on Sunday 7th of November 2010 09:18:46 AM

__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010
Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010

Madam Secretary Blog at ForeignPolicy.com
Project Vote Smart - Stay informed and engaged!


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I googled it a while ago I couldn't find it either perhaps the federal law is called something else.  I have only heard it referred to as Rockerfeller. 
What the federal law does is add a mandatory five year sentence in Federal Prison after they served state time

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