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Will NJ finally reform its drug sentencing laws?

By Douglas A. Berman

If sound policymaking were a priority, the New Jersey legislature would have long ago responded to the the New Jersey Commission to Review Criminal Sentencing  potent 2005 report urging reforms to the state's drug sentencing laws and particularly its laws creating "drug-free zones" (background here).  But, from the better-late-than-never file comes this new story from the Newark Star-Ledger suggesting that proposed reforms may be in the works:Two prominent state lawmakers yesterday predicted passage by next month of a bill to give judges some flexibility in sentencing people arrested for nonviolent drug crimes near schools. Support for the bill from Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) came on the same day a new report highlighted the high cost New Jersey pays to keep nonviolent drug users and small-time dealers behind bars...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on May 29, 2008 (boomark / email).