Paterson Is Said to Seek Deal in Drug Law Revision

Paterson Is Said to Seek Deal in Drug Law Revision

By JEREMY W. PETERS

Gov. David A. Paterson will introduce legislation this week that would roll back the state’s tough drug sentencing statues, known as the Rockefeller drug laws, by restoring significant power to judges in sentencing first-time, nonviolent drug offenders, a senior administration official said.

But the official said the governor’s bill would leave out other measures proposed by Democrats in the Assembly in an effort to reach a compromise with the closely divided Senate.

Mr. Paterson’s bill, which the official described as a “middle of the road course,” would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for first-time low-level drug felonies. It would also give judges the discretion to send offenders to treatment instead of prison but require offenders to plead guilty before they would be able to enter a rehabilitation program.

The governor’s office estimates that about 1,200 people a year would be diverted to treatment instead of state prison under its legislation.

SOURCE NYTIMES

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