June 11, 2010

Kathleen Rice
Nassau County District Attorney
262 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY 11501

Dear District Attorney Rice,

I was pleased to learn that you agreed yesterday to a series of debates across the state so that we may engage in an honest
discussion about our records and visions for the office of Attorney General.

I am following up on that agreement to specifically propose that one of those debates be focused on the issue of
Rockefeller Drug Law reform, given our divergent positions on the issue.

As a lifelong progressive Democrat, I was the lead sponsor of the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms that gave judges the final
say on sentencing decisions, and have spent my career fighting for smart-on-crime policies that keep our streets safe and
our communities whole. As you know, you lobbied Senate Republicans to oppose the reforms.

You have stated publicly, as recently as last month, your opposition to the central provision of the Rockefeller Drug Law
reforms: giving judges discretion in sentencing so that they are not required to impose prison terms for first-time, non-
violent felony drug offenders. Before our reforms were passed, the laws allowed prosecutors to unilaterally decide who
went to prison and who got treatment.

For decades, these laws devastated communities of color across New York City and the State. Studies have shown that
despite the fact that the majority of people who use and sell drugs in this State are white, over 90% of those in New York
prisons for drug offenses are black and Latino. Giving judges discretion in sentencing is the heart of the Rockefeller Drug
Law reforms.

Opposing this key reform, your campaign issued a statement saying in part, “the District Attorney often knows the most
about a defendant's background and is in a unique position to represent the community in determining which defendants
receive treatment and which for-profit drug dealers go to jail.”

This is an honest disagreement on policy, and I believe a debate will serve the public well. I am sending this letter to you
in particular because of our public disagreement on the issue. Once you agree to such a debate, I will then follow up with
our other colleagues in the race.

I hope you’ll accept this offer to have a debate moderated by a third party where we can engage in a respectful and honest
discussion of the merits of our positions as they relate to Rockefeller Drug Law reform. I look forward to defending
the historic reforms we enacted last year and giving you the opportunity to explain why you continue to oppose them.

Sincerely,

Eric Schneiderman