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 "There's A Crack in the System" supports the American ideal of a fair and appropriate sentencing system while at the same time informing the public that possessing a small amount of crack cocaine can carry an excessive penalty. According to Kara Gotsch of the Sentencing Project, “These laws have had no impact on reducing the availability of drugs in our communities and have in fact diverted precious resources. Possessing a quantity of drugs equivalent to two sugar packets should not send a person to prison for five 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
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United States Sentencing Commission Report: Cocaine and
Federal Sentencing Policy (PDF)