A coalition of criminal justice advocacy organizations has launched "It's Not Fair. It's Not Working," an ad campaign and national effort to reform the federal sentencing disparity ratio between crack and powder cocaine. The current 100-to-1 ratio results in excessive mandatory minimum sentences for first-time possession of small amounts of crack cocaine.
The ad "It's Not Fair" features Karen Garrison, mother of twin sons who received 15- and 19-year sentences for a non-violent crack cocaine offense just months after they graduated from college. According to Jasmine Tyler of the Drug Policy Alliance, “Karen Garrison is like mothers all over the country who want success for their children. Instead she will be making visits to federal prisons for years."
LEARN MORE
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Coalition Launches Public Education Initiative to Bring Fairness to
Crack Cocaine Sentencing (8/9/2007)
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ACLU Calls USSC Federal Sentencing Report a Step in the Right Direction
(5/15/2007)
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U.S. Sentencing Commission Issues News Recommendations on Federal
Sentencing Guidelines (4/28/2007)
>
ACLU Testifies Before United States Sentencing Commission for Fair Drug
Sentencing Policies (11/14/2006)
RESOURCES
> "It's Not Fair. It's Not Working:" Ad Campaign Fights for Fairness in Crack Cocaine Sentencing
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"It's Not Fair. It's Not Working." Media Resource Guide
> Report:
Cracks in the System: 20 Years of the Unjust Federal
Crack Cocaine Law
>
United States Sentencing Commission Report: Cocaine and
Federal Sentencing Policy (PDF)