A Month After Drug Incident At Lacey Library, Heroin Crack-Down Law Advances

Spurred by increasing incidents of heroin abuse, a law that would give prosecutors the option of charging suspected drug dealers based on how many dosage units of their product they are caught with has advanced in the state legislature.

The legislation, proposed by southern Ocean County's delegation, was designed with the help of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato and allows prosecutors an option to base their charge on a measurement other than the weight of drugs seized by authorities. It was advanced by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday.

The law comes as several local incidents involving heroin possession have made headlines. A month ago, police allegedly discovered drugs being used at the Lacey branch of the Ocean County Library.

A suspected drug dealer found to be in possession of more than 500 dosages or an ounce or more of product would be subject to first degree charges, and those caught with between 100 and 500 dosages – or a half ounce to one ounce of product – would face second degree charges. A third degree charge would be filed for smaller amounts.

"Heroin is cheaper to buy than a pack of cigarettes," the bill's proponents, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove (all R-Ocean), said in a joint statement. "Addicts resort to stealing, robbery and other crimes to feed their addiction, causing a ripple effect with destructive force throughout communities. With increasing regularity, victims are not strangers but neighbors, friends’ children or even family members."

The legislation would also require that dealers caught with a first degree-eligible amount of pure, uncut heroin be subject to an enhanced sentence that consists of 10 years without parole.

"The increasing number of deaths linked to heroin illustrates, in the grimmest and most alarming manner possible, the absolutely pressing need to strengthen statutory penalties for drug dealers, especially those involved in large-scale drug trafficking operations," the delegation said. "To combat the growing heroin epidemic that has pervaded our communities with deadly consequences, sentences for drug dealers must reflect the level of harm they inflicted on addicts, their families, and the community at large."

The bill has attracted a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, officials said.