New rules slashing crack cocaine sentences go into effect

[Gameface]

https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/justice/crack-cocaine-sentencing/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Washington (CNN) -- For thousands of prison inmates convicted of crack cocaine charges, the prison doors will be opening early, thanks to sentencing changes easing the disparity between the penalties for possessing or distributing crack vs. powder cocaine.
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Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act in August 2010, changing the 100-to-1 disparity between minimum sentences for crack and powder cocaine to 18 to 1. The U.S. Sentencing Commission voted this summer to make the reduced crack penalties retroactive, which means more than 12,000 current inmates are eligible to request reduced sentences.​

I find this very encouraging. Punishing crack cocaine offenses at 100 times the severity of powder cocaine makes zero sense, unless you just feel that poor people in inner-cities should be punished much more severely than well off people. You could read some racism in that policy and I wouldn't blame you. Yet, crack offenses are still punished 18-1 more severely than powder cocaine offenses.

 

[Jazz Spazz]

https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/justice/crack-cocaine-sentencing/index.html?hpt=hp_t2



I find this very encouraging. Punishing crack cocaine offenses at 100 times the severity of powder cocaine makes zero sense, unless you just feel that poor people in inner-cities should be punished much more severely than well off people. You could read some racism in that policy and I wouldn't blame you. Yet, crack offenses are still punished 18-1 more severely than powder cocaine offenses.

It's because of the poor economy. The dollar just does not go as far these days. The rich people couldn't buy the 100-1 ratio anymore.

 

[bigb]

https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/justice/crack-cocaine-sentencing/index.html?hpt=hp_t2



I find this very encouraging. Punishing crack cocaine offenses at 100 times the severity of powder cocaine makes zero sense, unless you just feel that poor people in inner-cities should be punished much more severely than well off people. You could read some racism in that policy and I wouldn't blame you. Yet, crack offenses are still punished 18-1 more severely than powder cocaine offenses.

Poor people shouldn't be punished more severely than rich folks? That's where they get all their jailhouse tats.

 

[LogGrad98]

Maybe to equal it out they should have gone the other way. Raise the punishment for powder cocaine 100x.