Rockefella Drug Law Policy

With the active support of then Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the New York drug laws were enacted in 1973, instituting harsh prison sentences for a wide range of drug offenses. The punishments required by this law for the possession or sale of heroin, cocaine and other hard drugs still rank among the most severe in the nation.

For example, this statute mandates a judge to impose a prison term of no less than fifteen years to life for anyone convicted of selling two ounces or possessing four ounces of a narcotic substance. The penalties apply without regard to the circumstances of the offense or the individual's character or background, whether the person is a first time or repeat offender.(1)

The small amount of drugs needed to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence under the Rockefeller Drug Laws make it one of the worst mandatory sentencing schemes in the country. These laws were enacted a quarter of a century ago when heroin addiction was at one of its peaks. Governor Rockefeller's personal solution to the drug problem was to require such long prison sentences, that no one would dare use them.

With the active support of then Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the New York drug laws were enacted in 1973, instituting harsh prison sentences for a wide range of drug offenses. The punishments required by this law for the possession or sale of heroin, cocaine and other hard drugs still rank among the most severe in the nation.

For example, this statute mandates a judge to impose a prison term of no less than fifteen years to life for anyone convicted of selling two ounces or possessing four ounces of a narcotic substance. The penalties apply without regard to the circumstances of the offense or the individual's character or background, whether the person is a first time or repeat offender.(1)

The small amount of drugs needed to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence under the Rockefeller Drug Laws make it one of the worst mandatory