New York statute

N.Y. Penal Law § 70.71 — Sentence of imprisonment for a class A felony drug offender

Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

Part of Article 70: Sentences of Imprisonment, New York Penal Law.

Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 70.71

Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.

N.Y. Penal Law § 70.71Primary source, current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)

70.71 Sentence of imprisonment for a class A felony drug offender. 1. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean: (a) "Felony drug offender" means a defendant who stands convicted of any class A felony as defined in article two hundred twenty of this chapter. (b) "Second felony drug offender" means a second felony offender as that term is defined in subdivision one of section 70.06 of this article, who stands convicted of and is to be sentenced for any class A felony as defined in article two hundred twenty of this chapter. (c) "Violent felony offense" shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision one of section 70.02 of this article. 2. Sentence of imprisonment for a first felony drug offender. (a) Applicability. Except as provided in subdivision three, four or five of this section, this subdivision shall apply to a person convicted of a class A felony as defined in article two hundred twenty of this chapter. (b) Authorized sentence. The court shall impose a determinate term of imprisonment which shall be imposed by the court in whole or half years and which shall include as a part thereof a period of post-release supervision in accordance with section 70.45 of this article. The terms authorized for such determinate sentences are as follows: (i) for a class A-I felony, the term shall be at least eight years and shall not exceed twenty years; (ii) for a class A-II felony, the term shall be at least three years and shall not exceed ten years. (c) Lifetime probation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may sentence a defendant convicted of a class A-II felony defined in article two hundred twenty of this chapter to lifetime probation in accordance with the provisions of section 65.00 of this chapter. 3. Sentence of imprisonment for a second felony drug offender. (a) Applicability. This subdivision shall apply to a second felony drug offender whose prior felony conviction or convictions did not include one or more violent felony offenses. (b) Authorized sentence. When the court has found pursuant to the provisions of section 400.21 of the criminal procedure law that a defendant is a second felony drug offender who stands convicted of a class A felony as defined in article two hundred twenty or two hundred twenty-one of this chapter, the court shall impose a determinate sentence of imprisonment. Such determinate sentence shall include as a part thereof a period of post-release supervision in accordance with section 70.45 of this article. Such determinate sentence shall be imposed by the court in whole or half years as follows: (i) for a class A-I felony, the term shall be at least twelve years and shall not exceed twenty-four years; (ii) for a class A-II felony, the term shall be at least six years and shall not exceed fourteen years. (c) Lifetime probation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may sentence a defendant convicted of a class A-II felony defined in article two hundred twenty of this chapter to lifetime probation in accordance with the provisions of section 65.00 of this chapter. 4. Sentence of imprisonment for a second felony drug offender previously convicted of a violent felony offense. (a) Applicability. This subdivision shall apply to a second felony drug offender whose prior felony conviction was a violent felony. (b) Authorized sentence. When the court has found pursuant to the provisions of section 400.21 of the criminal procedure law that a defendant is a second felony drug offender whose prior felony conviction was a violent felony, who stands convicted of a class A felony as defined in article two hundred twenty or two hundred twenty-one of this chapter, the court shall impose a determinate sentence of imprisonment. Such determinate sentence shall include as a part thereof a period of post-release supervision in accordance with section 70.45 of this article. Such determinate sentence shall be imposed by the court in whole or half years as follows: (i) for a class A-I felony, the term shall be at least fifteen years and shall not exceed thirty years; (ii) for a class A-II felony, the term shall be at least eight years and shall not exceed seventeen years. 5. Sentence of imprisonment for operating as a major trafficker. (a) Applicability. This subdivision shall apply to a person convicted of the class A-I felony of operating as a major trafficker as defined in section 220.77 of this chapter. (b) Authorized sentence. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, the court shall impose an indeterminate term of imprisonment for an A-I felony, in accordance with the provisions of section 70.00 of this article. (c) Alternative determinate sentence. If a defendant stands convicted of violating section 220.77 of this chapter, and if the court, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the crime and the history and character of the defendant, is of the opinion that a sentence of imprisonment is necessary but that it would be unduly harsh to impose the indeterminate sentence for a class A-I felony specified under section 70.00 of this article, the court may instead impose the determinate sentence of imprisonment authorized by clause (i) of subparagraph (b) of subdivision two of this section for a class A-I drug felony; in such case, the reasons for the court's opinion shall be set forth on the record.

Official sources

Official OLLS publication (Title download)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

What are the penalties for aggravated enterprise corruption in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, aggravated enterprise corruption carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for aggravated murder in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, aggravated murder carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for arson in the first degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, arson in the first degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for conspiracy in the first degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, conspiracy in the first degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for criminal possession of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the first degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, criminal possession of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the first degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for criminal use of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the first degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, criminal use of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the first degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for criminal use of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the second degree in New York?

As a Class A-II Felony, criminal use of a chemical weapon or biological weapon in the second degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 3 years to 8 years 4 months (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(ii); predatory sexual assault 10–25 years); class A-II drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate in the first degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate in the first degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate in the second degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate in the second degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

What are the penalties for kidnapping in the first degree in New York?

As a Class A-I Felony, kidnapping in the first degree carries indeterminate sentence with a maximum of life imprisonment (PEN 70.00(2)(a)); minimum period 15–25 years (PEN 70.00(3)(a)(i); murder in the first degree 20–25 years; certain offenses carry life without parole under PEN 70.00(5)); class A-I drug felonies sentence under PEN 70.71 instead of incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000 (the maximum authorized for the class) under N.Y. Penal Law § 70.00 (current).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.