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New York, NY -- Human Rights Watch says newly obtained state figures show nearly 80 percent of drug offenders who received prison sentences in 1997 have never been convicted of a violent felony, and one in four was convicted of simple possession. The international human rights group says the figures suggest most drug offenders are street-level sellers, addicts supporting their habit through low-level positions in the drug trade, mules who carry drugs for someone else, and dealers' girlfriends and wives. The group says the data they requested from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services and the Department of Correctional Services also shows half of the imprisoned drug offenders had never been convicted of a drug felony. The group calls the stiff sentences for minor drug offenders mandated by the drug laws passed under the administration of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller a quarter of a century ago ``misguided and destructive when it comes to nonviolent drug offenders.'' The group also calls the sentences unduly harsh. As an example, the group says over 1,200 people are in prison for class D felony possession, which requires only a half-gram or roughly $50 worth of cocaine for conviction. Copyright 1999 United Press International In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, Article 10, news clippings are made available without profit for research and educational purposes. |
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