SENTENCING FOR COCAINE IS FAR FROM FAIR

Congress Should Fix Disparity

Sentencing disparities for cocaine possession are unjust and unfair.
After years of ignoring the issue, Congress should move to make the
penalties for possessing crack and powdered cocaine more equitable.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission on four occasions has told Congress
that the disparity in sentencing unfairly targets urban and
low-income communities, fails to go after big-time drug dealers and
concentrates penalties on small-time street sales.

As a result, African-Americans who use crack are more likely to
receive stiff sentences than white, middle-class users and dealers of
powdered cocaine.

The latest report, "Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy," released
this week, once again recommends that Congress act to even out the
sentencing laws.

A person caught with five grams of crack cocaine faces a minimum
five-year federal prison sentence. To receive the same minimum
sentence, an individual would have to possess 500 grams (more than a
pound) of powdered cocaine.

Never mind that both forms are equally addictive, neither form is
more likely to cause violence in users, and both are illegal.

No one is arguing that use of cocaine is a good thing. But in
deciding penalties, it is only right to treat all offenders equally.