Table of Contents
What did the Rockefeller Drug Laws do?
Enacted in 1973, the Rockefeller Drug Laws mandated lengthy prison sentences for people convicted of a range of felony drug offenses, heralding a wave of mandatory sentencing statutes that swept the nation.
What impact did the Rockefeller Drug Laws have on addiction and crime in New York?
On the books for over 35 years, the racist Rockefeller Drug Laws failed to curb drug use or abuse in New York, but successfully disrupted low income communities of color and tens of thousands of lives through mass incarceration – all at taxpayer expense.
Who created the Rockefeller laws?
Governor Nelson Rockefeller
Governor Nelson Rockefeller surprised his own staff with his dramatic shift on drug policy. Jan 24, 2013 — Forty years ago this month, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller launched his campaign for what came to be known as the Rockefeller drug laws.
When was the Rockefeller law established?
May 8, 1973
Rockefeller, who pushed hard for the laws, was seen by some contemporary commentators as trying to build a “tough on crime” image in anticipation of a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976. The bill was signed into law on May 8, 1973.
What is the purpose of drug laws?
Indeed, the criminal drug laws protect drug traffickers from taxation, regulation and quality control. Those laws also support artificially high prices and assure that commercial disputes among drug dealers and their customers will be settled not in courts of law, but with automatic weapons in the streets.
What is the purpose of drug policy?
Drug policies are usually aimed at combatting drug addiction or dependence addressing both the demand and supply of drugs, as well as mitigating the harms of drug use, and providing medical assistance and treatment.
Does the three strikes law still exist?
California’s three strikes law is still in effect, although it has changed since it was initially enacted in the 1990’s. It was passed as a way to reduce the number of violent recidivist offenders in the state.
What is the national drug policy?
The National Drug Control Strategy outlines our efforts to reduce illicit drug use and its consequences in the United States. Science has shown that a substance use disorder is not a moral failing but rather a disease of the brain that can be prevented and treated.
When did the Rockefeller drug law start?
He signed it on May 8, 1973. Under the Rockefeller drug laws, the penalty for selling two ounces (57 g) or more of heroin, morphine, “raw or prepared opium ,” cocaine, or cannabis or possessing four ounces (113 g) or more of the same substances, was a minimum of 15 years to life in prison, and a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.
What are the Rockefeller laws in New York State?
Rockefeller Drug Laws. The Rockefeller Drug Laws are 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.
What did New York Governor David Paterson say about the Rockefeller laws?
In his first State of the State address in January 2009, New York Governor David Paterson was critical of the Rockefeller drug laws, stating, “I can’t think of a criminal justice strategy that has been more unsuccessful than the Rockefeller drug laws.”
How did the Rockefeller drug laws affect incarceration rates?
Part of the reason for the rising incarceration rates was due to how the Rockefeller drug laws may have imposed harsher penalties for non-violent drug offenses, but crimes related to drug use did not decrease.