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| NY considers reforming drug laws |
| By Delen Goldberg/The Post-Standard |
| Published: 03/09/2009 |
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Syracuse -- If state officials agree to reform New York's Rockefeller-era drug laws, about 3,000 people a year statewide could be diverted from jails and prisons and steered into treatment centers. Central New York would likely need an additional 100 to 200 treatment beds to accommodate the influx, but the people running local rehabilitation centers say they're already running at capacity. "We've had a waiting list for the last year," said Otto Feliu, director of Crouse Hospital's chemical dependency program. Treatment providers from Central New York and around the state are pushing lawmakers to include funding in the 2009-2010 budget to cover increased treatment needs that will result if old drugs laws are dropped. The New York Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers, for example, wants Gov. David Paterson and the Legislature to include $29 million in next year's budget to pay for in-patient and out-patient treatment statewide, as well as prevention programs. The availability of money is doubtful at best, as the state faces an estimated $14 billion budget shortfall, but Rockefeller reform is moving forward. The state Assembly passed a reform bill Wednesday in a 96-46 vote. The legislation would allow judges to sentence nonviolent, low-level offenders to probation or drug treatment instead of jail, strengthen in-prison treatment and community re-entry services, and establish drug courts in every county. Assembly Democrats generally supported the measure, while Republicans opposed it. "I've come to the conclusion that the Rockefeller laws are not really effective at all," said Assemblyman Al Stirpe, D-North Syracuse, one of the bill's multi-sponsors. "We continue to hemorrhage money keeping all these nonviolent offenders in prison. After 35 years, maybe it's time to try a different way." Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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