Congress narrows gap in cocaine sentences

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Congress has changed a quarter-century-old law that has sent tens of thousands of blacks to prison for crack cocaine convictions while giving far more lenient treatment to those, mainly whites, caught with the same amount of the drug in powder form.

House passage of what was called the "fair sentencing act" sends the legislation to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The measure alters a 1986 law, enacted at the height of the crack cocaine epidemic, under which a person convicted of crack cocaine possession gets the same mandatory prison term as someone with 100 times the same amount of powder cocaine.

The legislation reduces that ratio to about 18-to-1."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0XzGoOTbT4FqdIZXy5mtu7jVNMQD9H871T81

[Oregone]

1. Why is 18-to-1 the correct punishment ratio?

[Scurrilous]

2. It's not correct...

...just less incorrect.


Crack/Cocaine Sentencing Disparity

"Simple possession of any quantity of any other substance by a first time offender – including powder cocaine – is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a maximum of one year in prison. (21 U.S.C. 844)(1) The Drug Policy Alliance urges Congress to completely eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine without increasing the penalties for either drug.

This sentencing disparity, enacted in 1986 at the height of drug war hysteria, was based largely on the myth that crack cocaine was more dangerous than powder cocaine and that it was instantly addictive and caused violent behavior. Since then, copious amounts of scientific evidence and an analysis by the U.S. Sentencing Commission have shown that these assertions were not supported by sound data and were exaggerated or outright false."

http://www.drugpolicy.org/drugwar/mandatorymin/crackpowder.cfm

[Oregone]

3. I don't understand the notion of acknowledging injustice and irrationality...

and then addressing it with less-unjust and less-irrational policy. Its something about politics thats always been mind-numbing.