Opinion

NOW COMETH THE JUGGERNAUT

Do the recently passed reforms to New York’s Rockefeller drug laws hand a stay-out-of-jail card to some of the state’s most hardened drug dealers?

At least one street-smart alleged dealer sure seems to think so.

JUBILANT DRUGGIES DO THE JAILHOUSE ROCKY

That’s made clear in a recorded phone conversation released yesterday by Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, which features the recently arrested dealer parsing the new law with the knowing skills of a seasoned businessman.

“It’s called the Drug Dealers Protection Law,” the perp, whose name and location were not released, is heard telling an incredulous friend on the outside.

Indeed, there’s more to that than supporters of the reforms would care to admit: The new law allows judges to order drug-treatment programs in lieu of jail time for nearly all nonviolent offenders — including dealers.

And a recently discovered section of the new law allows such convictions to be sealed upon completion of the programs — potentially enabling dealers to secure sensitive jobs at institutions like schools and day-care centers.

Chillingly — but not surprisingly — the tape reveals the alleged dealer to be fully aware of all the ways he can game the system.

“[Perps] can say that they have a habit” in order to get into the treatment programs, he says.

“And you know me: I got no sales on my record — all of it is [drug-possession convictions] — so they gotta give me a program.”

“I’m gonna do what I have to do . . . to wipe my a–,” he adds.

Clearly, this guy has full faith in the willingness of the state judiciary to turn him loose on the slightest pretext.

History suggests that his confidence is well-warranted.

And he’s just as clear on what this portends for New York’s law-abiding citizens:

“You know what they did? They just created the beast. The beast is coming home to be the juggernaut.”

Translation: That’s one more alleged drug dealer returning to his trade.

You can bet he won’t be the last.