N.J. Police Criticize Plan to Scale Back Drug-Free Zones
December 18th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
A plan to cut back on the broad swaths of some cities covered by Drug-Free School Zones in New Jersey is meeting some resistance from police, the Home News Tribune reported Dec. 17.
Currently, the law calls for harsher penalties for drug offenses that take place within 1,000 feet of a school or 500 feet of a park. But in some urban areas, overlapping zones effectively mean that offenders face increased punishment no matter where in town their offenses occur.
A panel commissioned by Gov. Jon S. Corzine proposed trimming the zones to 200 feet and increasing the penalties for drug sales in the smaller zones; the recommendation was backed by all 21 county prosecutors in the state. But Rahway Police Chief John Rodger supports a bill by a pair of state lawmakers that would keep the current zone size and increase penalties. “Leave it at 1,000 feet, and increase the penalty in the 200-foot zone,” said Rodger.
Critics say that the Drug Free School Zones have failed to live up to their original promise of deterring drug sales to students. “It’s a laudable goal, but I can’t think of any (criminal case) file where people have sold to children or targeted them,” said Caroline Meuly, an assistant Middlesex County prosecutor.
Some police also agreed that the law has not changed the behavior of drug dealers. “You didn’t have a guy with a tape measure out saying, “Hey, I’m two feet over, I better move,’” said Cpl. Philip Rizzo of the Franklin Township Police Department. “It’s a matter of them going where the business is.”
Both the Corzine proposal and the bill backed by Rodger eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, giving prosecutors and judges more flexibility in dealing with drug offenders.