A day late and a dollar short, this process has been way too long in the coming. It was blatantly obvious to anyone that looked into this issue that the laws were set up to target impoverished minorities and to benefit wealthier whites. Laws like this show the modern day Jim Crow. But if the end result of this “review” is that cocaine charges get bumped up to equal the charges associated with crack then we’ve won a very minor victory indeed. What we need is our people to be freed and provided with an opportunity to make a good livlihood in the legal economy, something capitalism in this era will not provide. And if the attorney general admits these were wrong, will they commute the sentences of those still serving? Will they pay restitution to victims of this racist and classist law?! Don’t hold your breath!!
Attorney general wants review of cocaine sentences
http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=10592176
WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Eric Holder wants to change federal sentencing laws to erase the gap in prison sentences for crack and powder cocaine crimes.
It’s a disparity that hits black defendants the hardest.
Under current law, it takes 100 times more powdered cocaine than crack cocaine to trigger the same harsh, mandatory minimum sentences.
The Obama administration wants to change the law to end the 100 to 1 ratio in sentencing, and make it strictly 1 to 1. Some lawmakers aren’t sure it should be reduced that drastically. There also is debate over whether to close the gap by raising the penalty for powder cocaine, in addition to lowering the penalty for crack.
Speaking at a legal discussion sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, Holder says the administration is firm in the belief the sentencing disparity “must be eliminated.”
