Obama Signs Law Narrowing Cocaine Sentencing Disparities

[one...two...tree 2,762]

President Obama signed legislation on Tuesday reducing longstanding federal sentencing disparities between those caught with crack and those arrested with powder cocaine, finalizing a bipartisan consensus addressing a racially polarizing law enforcement debate.

Mr. Obama made no comments as he signed the bill, but during his 2008 presidential campaign, he said that the old law disproportionately affected young African-American and Hispanic drug users. In a speech last week, he said the new legislation would “help right a longstanding wrong” and was “the right thing to do.”

The legislation was a compromise reached by Democrats and Republicans who agreed that the old law imposed unduly harsh sentences for crack violations, which effected minorities in particular, compared with powder cocaine violations. The final bill was supported unanimously in the Senate and on a voice vote in the House, a rare moment where the parties have come together during Mr. Obama’s presidency.

Under the old law, a person caught with five grams of crack received a mandatory sentence of five years in prison, while a person caught with powder cocaine had to have 500 grams to merit the same term.The new law reduces the 100-to-1 disparity to 18-to-1. A crack defendant would have to have 28 grams to trigger the five-year mandatory minimum sentence, or roughly the amount that authorities presume would indicate a dealer rather than a casual user.

“By signing this reform into law, President Obama will save taxpayer money, reduce racial disparities and better prioritize federal law enforcement towards major crime syndicates instead of low-level offenders,” said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group.

Julie Stewart, founder and president of another group, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said the law “signals the beginning of new bipartisanship” that should lead to more reform, like extending the new rules to those already in prison. “The first test is whether Congress will finish the job on crack reform and apply the law retroactively,” she said.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/obama-signs-law-narrowing-cocaine-sentencing-disparities/

[ready4ONE 5,400]

While a step forward to some extent this change still falls short of true reform. We need to wake up and realize drug use is a health and lifestyle issue not a legal issue.

The war on drugs is an epic failure.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

While a step forward to some extent this change still falls short of true reform. We need to wake up and realize drug use is a health and lifestyle issue not a legal issue.

The war on drugs is an epic failure.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

the law is meaningless. Just more idiotic 'feel good' bullshit of racial/class equality....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If there is a racial bias in sentencing decisions ot needs to be addressed.

[Ban Hammer 12,830]

the law is meaningless. Just more idiotic 'feel good' bullshit of racial/class equality....

pretty much.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Both Sit Charles and Paul completely fail to understand the world as it exists for minorities in this country. Their ignorance shows strongly in this topic and in their failure to understand Hispanic sentiments regarding illegal immigration. Sadly they are not alone in their lack of understanding.

Correction! Sir Charles!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Both Sit Charles and Paul completely fail to understand the world as it exists for minorities in this country. Their ignorance shows strongly in this topic and in their failure to understand Hispanic sentiments regarding illegal immigration. Sadly they are not alone in their lack of understanding.

Correction! Sir Charles!

I would say I know a helluva lot more than you do on the subject. After all, I see more hispanic and black people in a day than you probably have in your entire life.

Of course this applies to most ignorant people in northern states who hardly live around any minorities.

Well aware how the hispanic population feels about illegals.

Regardless of the situation as well, my statement stands true on why it was passed.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

If there is a racial bias in sentencing decisions ot needs to be addressed.

There is since blacks tend to like crack more than whites.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It goes well beyond crack cocaine.

[Ban Hammer 12,830]

Both Sit Charles and Paul completely fail to understand the world as it exists for minorities in this country. Their ignorance shows strongly in this topic and in their failure to understand Hispanic sentiments regarding illegal immigration. Sadly they are not alone in their lack of understanding.

Correction! Sir Charles!

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I would say I know a helluva lot more than you do on the subject. After all, I see more hispanic and black people in a day than you probably have in your entire life.

Of course this applies to most ignorant people in northern states who hardly live around any minorities.

Well aware how the hispanic population feels about illegals.

Regardless of the situation as well, my statement stands true on why it was passed.

Of course you would say you know a lot more about everything than I do. You don't, but that would be just your ignorance shining through! Thanks for so eloquently illustrating my observation.

I live in a heavily Hispanic area although you have me with regards to not living in an area with a whole lot of black people, but that does not mean I don't or have not ever encountered them. Quite a bit of assumption on your part.

Further I am the proud parent of three minority children, lived and have worked with a Native American community for decades, so not a stranger to their point of view either.

Drug law enforcement falls heaviest on minorities and the crack/cocaine sentencing disparity has stood for a very long time as an example of pathetic racially biased policy. You stated the new law was meaningless feelgood BS of racial equality, and to some extent I would agree. Failing to dramatically alter and eliminate the war on drugs would be significantly more meaningful.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Of course you would say you know a lot more about everything than I do. You don't, but that would be just your ignorance shining through! Thanks for so eloquently illustrating my observation.

I live in a heavily Hispanic area although you have me with regards to not living in an area with a whole lot of black people, but that does not mean I don't or have not ever encountered them. Quite a bit of assumption on your part.

Further I am the proud parent of three minority children, lived and have worked with a Native American community for decades, so not a stranger to their point of view either.

Drug law enforcement falls heaviest on minorities and the crack/cocaine sentencing disparity has stood for a very long time as an example of pathetic racially biased policy. You stated the new law was meaningless feelgood BS of racial equality, and to some extent I would agree. Failing to dramatically alter and eliminate the war on drugs would be significantly more meaningful.

bingo.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I would say I know a helluva lot more than you do on the subject. After all, I see more hispanic and black people in a day than you probably have in your entire life.

Of course this applies to most ignorant people in northern states who hardly live around any minorities.

Well aware how the hispanic population feels about illegals.

Regardless of the situation as well, my statement stands true on why it was passed.

So, seeing hispanics and african americans uniquely qualifies you as an expert on minority culture and life?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

So, seeing hispanics and african americans uniquely qualifies you as an expert on minority culture and life?

It's not just 'seeing.' It's living amongst them in every day public life.

You go to the store, the mall, wherever down here and you'll see just as many hispanics and black people as you do white people. This is a very culturally diverse area of the country down here, despite what some may think. You go down to the bar and you're just as likely to be sitting next to a black guy and a hispanic guy as a white guy and then just shoot the ###### about whatever is going on.