In unusually quick action, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to change the punishment for possession of crack cocaine just a week after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved it. For 24 years, the law has punished crack users 100 times more heavily than powder cocaine users, the new Senate bill brings the 100-to-1 ratio down to 18-to-1. Julie Stewart of Families Against Mandatory Minimums says it was the the first time since the Nixon administration that the Senate voted to repeal a mandatory minimum sentence.
Cynthia Orr, president of the National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers, told National Public Radio how the 100-to-1 ratio plays out in real life: ”The penalty for possession of a saccharin package worth of crack cocaine is a five-year mandatory minimum. And it goes up from there astronomically to where you’re at a life sentence before you can bat an eye with crack cocaine. Whereas you have to have 5 kilos of powder cocaine, so it’s literally 100 times more severe penalty for the same amount of drug.” A House committee has approved a bill that treats crack and powder identically. The full House could adopt the Senate’s 18-to-1 sentencing ratio or push for a 1-to-1 ratio.
[...] The Crime Report » Archive » Senate Passes Bill To Reduce Crack … [...]
People dont understand about making bad choices. Sometimes things happen.
Right is right and wrong is wrong. I understand that, but they take these sentencing
to the extreme. And do think locking all these kids and adults up and not helping them
will help them. NO. People who are getting out of the prison system now is in a world of
danger, because of the economy. There are no jobs out here, so what do you think is
going to happen to them. Plus having a felony charge looking for a job, please. It is not
going to happen. You are hurting these people not helping them.
[...] this past Thursday, the Senate passed a bill to reduce the federal cocaine sentencing ratio from 100:1 to 18:1. This is astonishing news: In unusually quick action, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to change the [...]
[...] this past Thursday, the Senate passed a bill to reduce the federal cocaine sentencing ratio from 100:1 to 18:1. This is astonishing news: In unusually quick action, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to change the [...]
I feel that the to should be put into effect and immediately. I agree locking these people up just worsen the problem. The father of my child went to jail in 2008. My daughter was only 7 months when she last seen him face to face. She will be 12 years old when she get to spend father/daughter time with him. He was not a bad person (no violence on his record) but yet and still he gets 12 years and 7 months incarceration. I know of cases where a person has actually killed someone and got manslaughter with lesser time to serve. Jail changes people and in MOST cases it changes them for the worse. Bad habbits and harsh crimes are taught and learned in jails especially faderal prisons. Most of the “DRUG DEALERS” do this just to take care of their families. But once you lock them up the state takes their place. Because if there is no man there to help a woman with her child they turn to the state in some aspect for assistance; rather its housing, section 8, food stamps, or cash assistance. Retain these people for a reasonable time then let them back into the world. Let them come home to their families, WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED!!!