Established by the antidrug abuse acts of 1986 and 1988, the 100 to 1 ratio relates to the amount of crack versus powder cocaine necessary. Synonyms used to refer to crack cocaine include atari. Crackpowder sentencing disparity reduced by congress. The threshold for crack cocaine in the new law will be 28 grams. Since january of 2008, this nationally recognized blog has been dedicated to following the very latest news regarding presidential pardons and the pardon power. War on drugs, the effort in the united states since the 1970s to combat illegal drug use by greatly increasing penalties, enforcement, and incarceration for drug offenders the war on drugs began in june 1971 when u. Again, the commission recommended that congress reduce the 100. Supreme court weighs 100to1 disparity in crackpowder. Powder disparitythe data tell us that it is time to restore the balance i. In the supreme court of the united states yale law school. Pending president obamas signature, the new law will reduce that disparity to 18to1. We know that crack and powder cocaine are pharmacologically identical, and they.
Drug quantity sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine mostly black offenders now use an 18. A comprehensive examination of the 100to1 crack versus powder cocaine sentencing disparity under which distribution of just 5 grams of crack carries a minimum 5year federal prisonsentence, while distribution of 500 grams of powder cocaine carries the same 5year mandatory minimum sentence. This 100 to 1 disparity has frequently been cited by drug war opponents as exhibit a to buttress their claim that drug laws are racist. This sentencing disparity was reduced from 100to1 to 18to1 by the fair. Since 1993, all convicted offenders are required to serve 100 percent of the. Aclu testimony to reform the 1001 crackpowder disparity. Established by the antidrug abuse acts of 1986 and 1988, the 100to1 ratio relates to the amount of crack versus powder cocaine necessary.
Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be. Powder disparitythe data tell us that it is time to restore the balance. Powder disparity the data tell us that it is time to restore the balance i. Not all illegal drugs are treated alike in federal sentencing. But i think we are at a point now where this 100to1 disparity that does fall. Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked.
Join 100 to 1 ways in pursuit of justice and 381 supporters today. The american civil liberties union aclu would like to thank the subcommittee on crime and drugs of the senate committee on the judiciary for the opportunity to submit testimony for this hearing on federal cocaine sentencing laws. The commissions new study on cocaine sentencing was released april 29, 1997. The 100 to 1 quantity ratio and disproportionate racial impact the federal criminal penalty structure for the possession and distribution of crack cocaine is one hundred times more severe than the penalty structure relating to powder cocaine. Crack first saw widespread use as a recreational drug in primarily impoverished neighborhoods in new york city, philadelphia, baltimore, washington, d. The aclu is a nonpartisan organization with hundreds of thousands of activists and members and. Introduction no other feature of the federal sentencing guidelines has been viewed more critically than the 100. However, whereas powder cocaine dissolves in water, crack must be dissolved.
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