■ LAC Releases New Drug Law Reform Costs Savings Report

The Legal Action Center has just completed a new study, Drug Law Reform 2008 - Dramatic Costs Savings For New York State, which finds that New York would save over a quarter billion dollars a year by reforming the Rockefeller-Era Drug Laws. When drug law reform is fully operational, it is estimated that New York would save $267,660,000 a year.  Even in the first year, estimates show that New York would realize tens of millions of dollars in savings. The study calculated the cost savings that would accrue to New York State by diverting addicted individuals charged with second, non-violent, non-sex felony offenses from prison to community-based treatment, as they comprise the vast majority of individuals who are mandated into prison under current law. LAC believes such individuals should be diverted into mandated treatment if the laws are reformed.  The study excludes people charged with Class A felonies. The findings take into account savings generated by the elimination of costs associated with incarceration; savings related to reduced foster care, health care and welfare costs; and increased tax contributions. To see the full study, click here

■ Whoopi Goldberg Joins LAC at Rockefeller Hearings

The New York State Assembly held a hearing on May 8^th--the 35^th anniversary of the enactment of the New York State's notorious Rockefeller Drug Laws. Thanks to great film director and LAC Board member Doug Liman and Jason Flom, we were joined by Whoopi Goldberg who was eager to offer her perspective "as just a normal person and as a New Yorker" about the need to get rid of a law that is causing much more harm than the problem it was intended to address.

■ LAC Celebrates Passage of Second Chance Act

On March 13th, 2008, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) hosted a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to celebrate the recent passage of the "Second Chance Act" reentry legislation in Congress. Joining Congressman Davis was Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH); Former Congressman and Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Jack Kemp; Melody Heaps, President of the Center for Health and Justice at TASC; Paul Samuels, President and Director of the Legal Action Center; and a number of other supporters of the Second Chance Act.