Sentences for Crack Cocaine Crimes to Track Powder Cocaine Penalties, Under New Law

Source: ABA Journal Top Stories
A legal system that has been decried as unfair for harshly punishing largely black defendants for crimes involving relatively small amounts of crack cocaine while other defendants routinely escape similar punishment for crimes involving larger amounts of powder cocaine is on the verge of amendment. With the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act by Congress today, the measure now goes to President Barack Obama for an expected signature. It will then operate to increase the amount of crack cocaine required for punishment equivalent to what is meted out to those who violate drug laws concerning powder cocaine, reports the New…
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