New Jersey Could Reallocate Millions of Dollars in Funds By Revising its Drug-Free Zone Law

Posted by admin on May 31st, 2008

New Jersey could reallocate millions of dollars in funds by revising state drug-free zone law, according to a study by the Drug Policy Alliance. The report, “Wasting Money, Wasting Lives”, highlights that the state of New Jesey spends an estimated $331 million dollars a year to keep nonviolent drug offenders behind bars.

The bill, supported by Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), would allow judges to reduce the minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses in school zones, and still maintain the 1000-foot drug-free perimeter. “The state of New Jersey is wasting, literally, billions,” said Roseanne Scotti, the alliance’s executive director, pointing out that the average annual costs of incarcerating a nonviolent drug offender in a drug-free school zone is $46,000, versus drug therapy and treatment, which costs $18,000 a year.

The long-term effects of the state’s current rigid laws are far reaching. The study found that New Jersey loses income tax receivables not only for the time each nonviolent drug offender is jailed, but also once released, the nonviolent drug offender has a tougher time finding a well paying job due to their criminal record in the state of New Jersey, therefore leading to lower income taxes going to the state.

“The time has come for us to change from throw-away-the-key, lock-them-up mandatory minimums,” said Cryan. “Understand that that hasn’t worked.”

Sources:

Star-Ledger “Top lawmakers expect revision of drug-free zone law”

Asbury Park Press “Drug law reformers focus on possible cost savings”

Philadelphia Inquirer “N.J. study cites costs of drug sentencing”