DRUG LAW REFORM ASKED BY CLERICS

ALBANY - Religious leaders called on the state to reform mandatory
sentencing laws for drug offenders on Wednesday, the 29th anniversary of
the state's Rockefeller drug laws.

The clerics said they are seeing momentum for changing the laws this year,
with reform proposals from the governor and the Assembly and efforts to
organize those affected by the laws.

Gov. George Pataki and legislative leaders have been talking about reforms
to the laws in recent weeks, and Pataki said Wednesday he sees drug law
reform as a priority.

Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders who spoke at a news
conference Wednesday said the long prison sentences imposed under the drug
laws tear families apart.

The Rev. Clarence Grant, pastor of Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem,
cited case after case of parents whose children grew up while they were in
prison.

Grant quoted one of these parents, Jan Warren, as saying the 12 years she
spent in prison nearly destroyed her family.

"When you have been away for so long, it's extremely difficult to
reestablish parental supervision and guidance. You become a stranger to
your own children," he quoted Warren as saying.

Mokhtar Maghraoui, resident scholar of the Islamic Community of Troy, said
some of those imprisoned by the drug laws are "wounded human beings" who
need help.

"Instead, we give them severe punishment," he said.

The drug laws, enacted under Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, were a
well-intentioned reaction to the serious problems of drugs in society, said
the Rev. Howard Hubbard, bishop of the Albany Roman Catholic diocese.

"While the goals were laudable, history has proven this strategy fatally
flawed," he said.

Blacks and Hispanics make up a disproportionate share of those imprisoned
under the Rockefeller drug laws, according to the state Catholic
Conference, which represents the state's bishops. Ninety-four percent of
those imprisoned under the drug laws are black or Hispanic.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other top Democrats issued a statement
Wednesday saying they are "encouraged by discussions with the governor on
this issue." But they said his proposals fall short of the reforms that are
necessary.

The Republican governor said Wednesday he wants "sensible and balanced
reforms" to the drug laws. He said he wants to give judges more discretion
in sentencing, but make sure prosecutors still play a significant role.

Black and Hispanic voters want reform of the drug laws, said the Rev. Glen
Missick, executive director of the African-American Council of the Reformed
Church in America in New York City. He said he thinks political leaders
will feel pressure to act on the issue as the fall election draws closer.

Last week, advocates for reforming the drug laws said the state could save
more than $91 million by sending people convicted of second, nonviolent
felony offenses to drug treatment instead of prison.

The Legal Action Center argued those savings could help the state's
financial problems.