Russell Simmons: Ending Drug Laws A 'Great Victory' For Hip Hop

Over the past 36 years Rockefeller Drug Laws, which were instated by former New York state Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, has enforced strict mandatory jail sentences (up to 15 years to life) for first time and non-violent drug offenders.

Now with Democrats controlling all three branches of the state government in addition to contributions from the hip hop community, the law has finally come to an end. Today, current New York state Governor David Paterson, along with the state legislature, effectively ended the harsh laws, which were once among the harshest in the nation.

Although the strictest provisions were removed in 2004, the latest agreement will eliminate mandatory minimum terms for some low-level nonviolent drug felonies, which could cut the prison population by thousands.

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NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Russell Simmons rallies against New York's Rockefeller drug laws outside Governor David Paterson's office on March 25, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK - MARCH 04: Russell Simmons and Tommy Hilfiger attend the Marky Ramone Rock Scene Collection launch hosted by Paper Magazine at Tommy Hilfiger on March 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Russell Simmons (R) arrives at the 17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Award Viewing Party held at the Pacific Design Center on February 22, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 22: Russell Simmons (R) and guest arrives at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter held at the Sunset Tower on February 22, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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"In additional to being unjust, these policies are ineffective," Paterson, the first black governor of the state, told reporters. "Three decades have shown the core issue is often addiction, a treatable illness, with far lower recidivism for those who get treatment instead of prison...At the same time, penalties will be toughened for drug kingpins and dealers who sell to children."

The New York Times reports the new plan would also "expand drug treatment programs and widen the reach of drug courts at a cost of at least $50 million...But in the long run, the changes are expected to save money because sending offenders to treatment is less expensive than spending $45,000 a year to keep them confined."

Many of the current prisoners who are serving under the Rockefeller Drug Laws will be eligible for re-sentencing retroactively.

As for members of the hip hop community, who has been very instrumental in stripping away harsher parts of the law, today's reform is considered to be a "great victory."

"Ending the Rockefeller Drug Laws is a great victory for the hip-hop community," Russell Simmons said in a statement issued by his rep Jody Miller. "We worked hard, turned up the volume on this issue and rejuvenated and broadened the coalition, but it was hip-hop artists like Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent that gave this movement for change the power to wake people up and to get the politicians to do the right thing."

Since 2003, the Def Jam Records founder and Dr. Benjamin Chavis have been actively involved in building a national coalition (Countdown To Fairness) through their Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.

And according to Simmons, today's events has only inspired the coalition to take their campaign across the country to end other drug laws. "We have achieved a great victory for the people of New York and are inspired by the courageous leadership of Governor Paterson, Senator [Malcolm] Smith and Assemblyman [Sheldon] Silver. However, we must now go to work around the country to end the unjust drug laws in numerous other states and on the federal level."

"This is about changing the direction in this country for a more just and fair judicial system," he added.