AMEND THE LAW ON DRUG PENALTIES

Re "Closing crack's 100-1 ratio," Opinion, Nov. 2

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has shown Congress that now is the
time to reform the crack cocaine sentencing scheme. The commission
introduced an amendment, made effective Nov. 1, that lowers the
bottom of the recommended sentencing ranges for crack cocaine-related
crimes so that they are no higher than the mandatory minimum
sentences required by federal law. The change is expected to affect
more than 3,500 people each year and would reduce defendants'
sentences on average by 15 months. While this step is encouraging,
only Congress can eliminate the punitive, racist disparity between
powder and crack cocaine sentences. The increased penalty for crack
has not aided urban communities. Instead, it has devalued men and
women and stripped them from their communities for excessive periods of time.

Jasmine L. Tyler

Washington