By Adam Kramer
The caucus plans to explore different options to prison for drug- addicted offenders, extending substance abuse treatment to non-violent drug offenders, and to support a variety of programs addressing women's needs.
“New policies for drug offenders is this year's priority for the Legislative Women's Caucus,” Clark said. “Woman state legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, agree that the Rockefeller drug laws have not worked. New York must look for new initiatives, such as alternatives for incarceration for non-violent drug offenders addicted to drugs.”
She said over the year the caucus plans to work together with the commissioners of the state Criminal Justice Services, state Substance Abuse Services and state Commission of Correction to develop new programs and services for women drug offenders.
Department of Corrections statistics show that 68 percent of women who were incarcerated in state prison in 1998 used drugs, she said. Prison has not stopped people from using drugs, Clark said, whereas substance abuse treatment has been proven successful.
“Women are disproportionally impacted by the Rockefeller drug laws,” Clark said. “There is a huge increase of women in prison due to the Rockefeller drug laws.”
In 1973 the state Legislature passed the Rockefeller drug laws, which mandated a minimum prison term for offenses that earlier had been punished by probation.
Clark said once in jail the women are not provided with any support mechanism to help them overcome their problems. Clark said women in prison are shortchanged in comparison to the male prisoners, when it comes to treatment programs, work release and education programs.
Many times women will plea-bargain because of the Rockefeller drug laws, but when they get caught again, it falls under the second felony law, which is a mandatory four-year sentence.
“Most of the women in prison are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes and the punishment should fit the crime,” she said.
The caucus is an organization of women elected to the state Legislature. The group is made up of the 46 women, both Democratic and Republican, who serve in the state Assembly and state Senate.
The 18-year-old organization is an advocate for programs and services which benefit the women of the state. It has been under Clark's leadership since June 1999. Queens Assemblywomen Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) is the organization's secretary.
Working through the caucus, women legislators are trying to “improve the participation of women in all areas of government, support issues that affect and benefit women in New York state and provide a network of support for women in the state legislature.” the Causes said.
According to the caucus, some of its important concerns are the state budget, services for women, women's health care and child education and dependent care.
Other Queens members of the Women's Caucus are Assemblywoman Ann Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside), Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn (D-Flushing), Assemblywoman Margaret Markey (D-Elmhurst), Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-So. Ozone Park), Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan (D-Ridgewood) and state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing).
