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Movement on the Rockefeller drug laws represent the culmination of a decades-long campaign to soften drug penalties instituted in the 1970's that put some offenders away for 15 years to life. Under the changes, some drug offenders would be immediately released from prison. The length of the longest sentences would be reduced to 20 years. The Rockefeller laws were passed three decades ago to confront the narcotics scourge of that era, but critics say they have subjected hundreds if not thousands of people to unnecessarily lengthy prison terms.
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The drug bill, at its core, provides for lower sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and for a series of set sentences for those convicted of drug offences. It also doubled the weight threshold for possession of heroin, cocaine and some other narcotics to eight ounces from four in Class A-1 felonies and from four ounces to two ounces in Class A-II felonies.
Previously, first-time Class A-1 felony offenders have faced a minimum sentence of 15 years to life in prison. But the new minimum sentence for those offenders would become 8 years, with up to 20 years as a maximum. The sentencing guidelines were also changed for Class B felony offenses, though punishment for violent offenders would be increased, said one Republican senator.
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.....it was ultimately an agreement worked out behind the scenes and with little time for debate.
"This is it? This is it?" said Thomas K. Duane, a Democrat from Manhattan.
"After all this time, this is what comes to the floor? It would be an unbelievable stretch to call this Rockefeller drug law reform."
http://nytimes.com/2004/12/07/nyregion/07cnd-drug.html?hp&ex=1102482000&en=c295dfb82d35fe3f&ei=5094&partner=homepage