A recent hearing in New York City brought out both tough critics and staunch defenders of the state's harsh Rockefeller-era drug laws, Newsday reported May 9.

Marking the 35th anniversary of the passage of the mandatory-sentencing laws, the legislative hearings drew treatment providers, drug-policy reformers, prosecutors, defense attorneys and others, some of whom called for continuing a reform process started in 2004 and 2005 that has put more emphasis on rehabilitation than incarceration.

"The city bar believes more should be done," said Robert Gottlieb of the criminal justice council of the Bar Association of New York.  "Allow them into drug treatment, not prison."

"People convicted of drug-related felonies face really serious obstacles to joining society once they are released," added Judy Whiting, of the city bar's corrections committee.

Lisa Schreibersdorf, president of the state Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, called on lawmakers to wipe clean the records of first-time drug offenders. However, narcotics prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, "The threat of incarceration is critical to the success of our [addiction treatment] programs -- and it is a critical element in the success of our efforts to keep dealers from taking over buildings, blocks and neighborhoods.

"The plain and unvarnished truth is that for the [alternatives to incarceration] process, the harsh sentences of the Rockefeller Drug Laws was the backbone of our success," said Brennan.