Enacted in 1973, the Rockefeller Drug Laws mandate extremely harsh prison terms for the possession or sale of relatively small amounts of drugs. Supposedly intended to target major dealers (kingpins), most of the people incarcerated under these laws are convicted of low-level, nonviolent offenses, and many of them have no prior criminal record.

Despite modest reforms in 2004 and 2005, the Rockefeller Drug Laws continue to deny people serving under the more punitive sentences the ability to apply for shorter terms, and do not increase the power of judges to place addicts into treatment programs. Nearly 14,000 people are locked up for drug offenses in New York State prisons, representing nearly 22 percent of the prison population, costing New Yorkers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Frequently Asked Questions
Rockefeller Drug Laws FAQ

Testimony
Testimony: Public Hearings On The Rockefeller Drug Laws, Special Housing Units, And Transitional Services For Inmates
Testimony: Commission Must Reform Inhumane Drug Laws

Legislative Memos
Legislative Memo: NYCLU Strongly Supports Reform of Rockefeller Drug Laws

Letters and Columns
Letter: Reform of Rockefeller Drug Laws Long Overdue (Albany Times-Union)
Rockefeller Drug Laws: Open Letter to New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform
Column: Defending New Yorkers’ Liberty in ’08 (New York Metro)

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