NY Gov Repeals Rockefeller Drug Laws....and a night with The Dead :)
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Artist:
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Track:Rockeller Drug Blues
Last night the Dead came back to my town....and you'd think I'd be posting a Dead tune..but rather I'm posting a Felice brothers song to celebrate our governor signing a bill to overturn the Rockefeller drug law. Now I'm not condoning drug use or drug sales but when you look at how much it cost to keep someone in jail, there are much better ways to spend our tax dollars..
And the Dead were GREAT.....I'm still dancing........ and smiling...here's a clip from last night
Comments (6)
hah.......this was a little late for me. got busted in Brooklyn about a week after it first passed!
Robin - your timing definitely sucks. I posted this partly to celebrate a real close friend being released after 4 yrs on a minor sale.
Maybe you'll be as lucky as my better half who got away with only a fine last year :)
actually, it first went into effect around '75 or so? not sure the exact date. after 3 days in jail, heavy lawyers and fines, i got 1.5 probation. it's been over for ages. i just wish i had been caught before it existed!! your friend did worse......
so what does this all mean? whats changed?
Glad you asked what has changed...here's a section from recent news article -
The Rockefeller Drug Law amendments, which were signed into law by Governor Paterson earlier this month, reflect a changing philosophy and approach to prosecuting nonviolent drug offenses in this state, especially first offenses, and even incorporate the view that drug addiction is a health issue as well as a legal problem.
Now judges have the discretion to impose appropriate sentences, including drug treatment programs, without first obtaining the permission of district attorneys. Previously, district attorneys insisted on long periods of incarceration even when a defendant has an opportunity to be rescued from a life of crime by going to treatment instead of a cell.
sounds like a good start, over here in NZ its fairly liberal these days. Many first offenders get whats called diversion, where you pay money to a chosen charity and dont even make the paper but if there is substantial capital gain proven (and that can and is abused often) the offender can lose properties and vehicles etc. Opiate addicts can end up on a methadone programme and get a dose every morning from the pharmacy, thats more about keeping them off the streets and hanging out, many will tell you its more addictive that the opiate they got hooked on and rehab is optional.
I have a close family member on methadone and he is definatly unwell, thats why hes an addict