For example, the harshest provision of this statute mandates a judge to impose a prison term of no less than 15 years to life for anyone convicted of selling 2 ounces or possessing 4 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, for instance, is irrelevant. There are nearly 22,300 drug offenders locked up in New York State prisons. These laws are marked by racial bias.
Alternatives are available that save money and cut crime.
A 1997 study by RAND's Drug Policy Research Center concluded that treatment is the most effective tool in the fight against drug abuse. The RAND study found that treatment reduces 15 times more serious crime than mandatory minimum sentences.