President Barack Obama finally used his pardon power to commute the sentence of a federal inmate, the first such commutation he’s granted since taking office. This prisoner was a victim of the imbalanced crack-cocaine laws in place before the Fair Sentencing Act reduced the disparities between powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. [Read more…]
Judges Still Sentencing Crack Defendants Under Unjust Law
In what was called the Fair Sentencing Act, Congress reduced the glaring disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences. But they failed to make it retroactive to apply to those who where previously convicted, but not yet sentenced. Now, judges are being forced to sentence defendants under the old and horribly skewed law despite the general recognition that such law was completely unjust. But, they aren’t doing it without voicing their opinions. [Read more…]
Crack-Cocaine Sentencing Disparities Reduced By Congress
Last week Congress moved to reduce the disparities between the crack cocaine and powder cocaine sentences. The difference between the two had been a point of controversy since the 1980s with critics claiming the difference was racist and completely irrational. [Read more…]
