The Bush administration, moreover, insists that judges must be kept in harness. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., and Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, who've again introduced a bill to even out cocaine sentences.Ĭongress, however, hasn't been willing to roll back the get-tough sentencing system imposed at the height of the Reagan administration's war on drugs. Sentencing Commission, which has repeatedly recommended revising the 21-year-old cocaine sentencing rules. We shouldn’t just throw them behind bars so that they become better criminals rather than better citizens,” said Harris.Other judges agree. But people who are sick, people struggling with addiction or mental illness. I’m sure the people of Bismarck truly believe that the people who commit violent crimes are dangerous and should be isolated from society.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t be held accountable. We can help bring families back together, and in the process, you know what else? We can help save the taxpayer some money,” said Armstrong. Locking people up for 30 years for a first-time, non-violent offense doesn’t solve a lot of our problems. They are going to reenter society at some point in time. “The vast majority of people who are charged under these crimes are between the age 18 to 25. Kelly Armstrong supports the bill and says it just makes sense.
“Anybody that even believes the do the crime do the time mantra will also agree that a person should also be able to do the appropriate time,” said Charles. And that means completely fully and finally eliminating this egregious disparity from the law altogether,” said Holly Harris, Executive Director of Justice Action Network. While earlier efforts to bring the 100-1 disparity down to 18-1 were successful, others feel more change is necessary.
But at the same token, I received an excess of 20 years just based off the fact that I sold crack cocaine as opposed to powder cocaine,” said Charles. Powder cocaine offenders have been shown to be mostly white, and often receive lesser sentences.Ĭharles tells us the effects of the disparity are something he personally experienced. sentencing report, 80.9% of crack cocaine trafficking offenders were Black. “Not only were they being taken at a rapid rate, arrested at a rapid rate but also given sentences that were beyond what was appropriate,” said Charles, a criminal justice reform advocate.Īccording to the U.S. Matthew Charles, who was one of the first people freed following similar legislation, says the issue dates back to the war on drugs targeting the Black community. Both Republicans and Democrats are coming together in support of something called the Equal Act - new legislation that aims to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
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