Changes could benefit blacks and Hispanics ... somewhat.
The United States Sentencing Commission last week enacted new guidelines which should result in blacks convicted of possessing crack-cocaine spending less time in jail.
The new guidelines reduce the maximum sentence for crack-cocaine possession from 10 years 1 month to 8 years 10 months.
Federal officials have long been criticized by civil rights groups for the so-called 100-to-1 disparity in drug sentencing. Under the old guidelines, a person possessing just 50 grams of crack-cocaine (which is more commonly used by inner city blacks) could get 10 years in prison. But it would take possession of 5,000 grams of powered cocaine (which is more commonly used among suburban whites) to get the same 10 year sentence.
The new guidelines for federal sentencing reduce but still do not eliminate that disparity. The commission will decide on November 13th whether or not to make the new guidelines retroactive.
If they are made retroactive, nearly 20,000 mostly black and Hispanic crack-cocaine offenders could see their sentences reduced.
source: Taylor Media Services
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