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Obama Administration Calls for End to Crack-Powder Sentencing Disparity

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Obama Administration Calls for End to Crack-Powder Sentencing Disparity by Jasmine Tyler, Anthony Papa Huffington Post April 29, 2009 On President Obama's 100th day in office the White House asked Congress to address the issue of disparity in penalties for the use of powder/crack cocaine. This historic request follows a national lobby day held yesterday that was co-sponsored by a dozen advocacy groups. The day brought together voters from Utah, California, Oklahoma, New Jersey, South Carolina and other states to pressure key members of Congress to eliminate the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences. The groups held a breakfast briefing with members of congress and victims of the federal disparity on Tuesday morning. Chocolate bars weighing fifty grams, the equivalent weight that would trigger a 10 year mandatory minimum sentence for crack cocaine, were on hand to demonstrate to members of Congress just how small that quantity is compared to the 5000 grams -- five kilos -- of powered cocaine that garners the same penalty...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on April 29, 2009 (boomark / email).