Thorn, Clovis. "Statement of Drug Policy Alliance Drug Policy Foundation: Latino Health and Justice Coalition Press Conference." June 27, 2001.
Thank you for coming today. My name is Clovis Thorn and I am with The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation here in New York. The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation is proud to join the Latino Health and Justice Coalition in calling on the New York State Assembly and the Governor to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws and increase funding to address HIV/AIDS in the New York State Latino community. We applaud the bold leadership of those members of the Senate and Assembly that have joined us here today.
Why is this coalition calling for action on these two issues? Our Latino leadership has connected the dots between these very important matters. HIV/AIDS is not solely a health issue. It is a justice issue. It is about justice and equal access to treatment for Latinos confronted by HIV/AIDS. It is about access to treatment that is appropriate for Latinos, provided for Latinos by Latinos.
And reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws is not solely a justice issue. It is also a health issue. It is about the health of Latino families and communities across New York. It is about returning fathers and mothers to their children so that these parents can provide for their families. Latinos recognize the connection between these issues, and it's time for us to work with our leadership to make these changes possible.
Rockefeller Drug Laws have a disproportionate negative impact on the Latino community. While drug use rates are roughly equal among racial and ethnic groups, Latinos make up 47% of drug offenders currently in New York State prisons, more than three times their percentage of the population of drug users. Those opposed to reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws cannot explain this disparity without acknowledging the inherent racism in how the Rockefeller Drug Laws are enforced.
Governor Pataki has called for reform, yet his proposal is hollow and actually a step backward. Governor Pataki's reform proposal, by eliminating parole for non-violent drug offenders and increasing the penalties for marijuana possession, could potentially increase the state prison population, especially among Latinos, and could reduce incentives for prisoners to cooperate with rehabilitation.
Let us be clear. When we lend our support to Rockefeller Drug Law reform we are supporting the New York State Assembly legislation. This bill goes much further than the governor's proposal.
- It expands the discretion of judges and lessens the current stranglehold of prosecutors to coerce pleas from defendants;
- The Assembly bill does not eliminate the possibility of parole for non-violent drug offenders as the governor's bill does;
- The Assembly proposal provides funding for drug treatment for those currently incarcerated for drug offenses and for those who will be diverted out of prison under this plan;
- The Assembly bill also increases the weight threshold required to trigger the harshest sentences, making sentences for drug possession more in line with other non-violent crimes; and
- If enacted the Assembly bill would allow many of those currently serving long mandatory sentences for minor drug offenses to be reunited with their families.
The New York State District Attorney's Association has come out in strong opposition to these common-sense reforms. The Latino community demands to know why.
- Why are the prosecutors opposed to providing drug treatment that is proven to be more effective, and cheaper to the state, than incarceration?
- Why do the DA's want to continue locking up Latinos in record numbers for non-violent low-level drug offenses?
- Why do the DA's support a prison system that has seen its budget grow by nearly $800 million since 1988 while budgets for the New York state and city university system have declined by $600 million during the same time?
- Why are the prosecutors intent on warehousing young Latino men and women away from their communities and families?
The simple answer is that meaningful reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws means that the prosecutors would lose some of their power. If the prosecutors are unwilling to relinquish their power back to judges in the interest of a healthier and more just society, then they steal hope from our Latino communities, and they sow despair. We call on the DA's to consider the health of the Latino community and cease their disengenuous rhetoric.
But most importantly let us note that this is a positive day for the New York Latino community. This is a day when Latino leaders come together to say "This is our community and these are our issues." We salute Assembly Member Rivera, Senator Gonzalez and Council Member Linares and the other members of the Coalition and look forward to working with you on these issues. Thank you.
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