Chipping Away at Crack Sentencing Disparity

The first step toward eliminating the much-reviled 100-to-one crack-to-powder-cocaine sentencing scheme will take effect tomorrow, Nov. 1.

"...The first step toward eliminating the much-reviled 100-to-1 crack-to-powder-cocaine sentencing scheme will take effect tomorrow, Nov. 1, when..."

Oct. 31, 2007 News Post by Jordan Smith

Talkin' Crack With AG Michael Mukasey

"...country will soon be invaded by teeming throngs of crack-addled heathens hell-bent on infecting new users with their dangerous..."

Jan. 28, 2008 News Post by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness: A Crack at Correcting Sentencing Disparity

New law may indicate course change for drug sentencing

"...was codified, federal lawmakers have finally undone the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. And without delay,..."

Aug. 20, 2010 News Column by Jordan Smith

Obama on Crack

Obama says he supports eliminating the 100-to-1 crack sentencing disparity

"...President Barack Obama supports the adoption of a one-to-one crack-to-powder cocaine sentencing scheme, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer told..."

April 29, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Crack Busters

The pieces are finally in place to end the crack cocaine sentencing disparity

"...now in place to finally eradicate the notorious 100-to-one crack to powder cocaine federal sentencing guidelines...."

Oct. 19, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness: Closing the Crack-Cocaine Gap

U.S. Sentencing Commission votes to close disparate gap between federal sentencing guidelines related to crack and powder cocaine

"...The U.S. Sentencing Commission has voted to close the widely disparate gap..."

June 15, 2007 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness: A Victory for Proportional Sentencing

The House Judiciary Committee has voted to end the disparity between sentences for crack and powder cocaine

"...by federal judges, especially those on the United States Sentencing Commission, members of the House Judiciary Committee on July..."

Aug. 14, 2009 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness: Federal Sentencing Law Up for (Watered-Down) Reform

Senate committee passes compromise bill on sentencing disparity

"...a bill to do away with the infamous 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Unfortunately, it's not..."

March 19, 2010 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Roundup: 6/3/11

Your dose of drug war news

"...medi-pot bills, Attorney General Eric Holder supports making new crack sentencing law retroactive, and a bunch of international honchos..."

June 3, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness

Convicted drug felons slated for early release this week under new crack-cocaine guidelines

"...Thanks to long-awaited changes to federal crack-cocaine sentencing guidelines, adopted last year by the U.S. Sentencing..."

March 7, 2008 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Roundup 12/23/10

News from the frontline of the drug war

"...Additional reform to crack sentencing laws on the horizon? Could it be?..."

Dec. 23, 2010 News Post by Jordan Smith

Reefer Roundup: 12/9/11

Get your fix of drug war news

"...treatment, lawmakers ask for pot rescheduling, and fixing the crack law disparity...."

Dec. 9, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness

Feds ease harsh penalties on crack defendants

"...The first step toward eliminating the much-reviled 100-to-1 crack-to-powder-cocaine sentencing scheme took effect Nov. 1, with federal sentencing..."

Nov. 9, 2007 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness

The odd logic behind federal sentencing guidelines

"...the U.S. Supreme Court made a revelatory ruling: Federal sentencing guidelines, laying out mandatory ranges for a host of..."

Oct. 26, 2007 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness: Drug Laws Are So Fifties

Advocacy group calls for a return to the Seventies on sentencing

"...drug users and drug traffickers for the purposes of sentencing." Fifty-seven years ago, lawmakers passed the Boggs Act in..."

Oct. 17, 2008 News Column by Jordan Smith

Doing 25 to Life

U.S. Sentencing Commission in Austin to consider testimony on impact of 1984 sentencing reform law

"...It's the 25th anniversary of the federal Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, do you know where your..."

Nov. 19, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness: Bush Pardons Hip-Hop Artist

John Forté was dealt harsh sentence under draconian drug law

"...2001 and handed a 14-year prison term under mandatory-minimum sentencing. The decision to release Forté was applauded by drug-law..."

Dec. 12, 2008 News Column by Jordan Smith

Reefer Roundup: 7/4/11

Your patriotic drug news roundup

"...plurality that federal defendants who negotiated plea deals under sentencing guidelines that then change may seek to have their..."

July 4, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

If You're White, It's All Right

The colors of justice in Williamson County

"...busts – spent six months making a series of crack cocaine buys in Taylor. Those transactions eventually resulted in..."

Sept. 24, 2004 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Reefer Madness

The dope on Clinton, Obama, and McCain

"...half of them (900,000) were black, reports the nonprofit Sentencing Project. The startling increase in the number of incarcerated..."

May 2, 2008 News Column by Jordan Smith

Weed Watch

Supreme Court tosses out mandatory sentencing ... sort of

"...ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the federal sentencing guideline scheme enacted by Congress in the mid-Eighties in..."

Jan. 21, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...law, and is especially regarded for his knowledge of sentencing law. In fact, he co-wrote the book on it...."

Oct. 8, 2004 Column

A Prosecutor Weighs In on Williamson County Story

"...law, and is especially regarded for his knowledge of sentencing law. In fact, he co-wrote the book on it...."

Sept. 30, 2004 Postmarks

Top 10 2007 Joints

Reefer Madness

"...1) Down With Crack On Nov. 1, the first step toward eliminating the..."

Jan. 4, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

"...and Daryl Slusher in their re-election runs, and Brewster McCracken in his challenge to incumbent Beverly Griffith. On another..."

April 5, 2002 News Feature by Lauri Apple

Deep Blues From Gatesville

Amy Smith thought a judge would give her two years max for possession of crack cocaine; why is she doing 20?

"...the maximum penalty for possession of $20 worth of crack cocaine, or $40 worth if you include her priors...."

March 16, 2001 News Feature by Amy Smith

Fairness, Consistency, Safety

Rosemary Lehmberg defends her record

"...the corner. But then let's look at these one-rock crack cases and this kind of thing, where people need..."

Jan. 20, 2012 News Feature

Thinking About Alternatives to Incarceration

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has decided its finally time to think about how to keep people out of prison

"...The U.S. Sentencing Commission has signaled that it will consider alternatives to..."

Sept. 17, 2008 News Post by Jordan Smith

Unpardonable

The Bush record of 'compassionate conservatism' is amply illustrated by his clemency record in Texas

"...Eve 1992 for trying to sell 1.6 grams of crack cocaine – enough for a good high, but hardly..."

June 11, 2004 News Feature by Lucius Lomax

White Boy Rick

A true-life tale of coke, corruption, and betrayal

"...defense when it came time for his trial and sentencing. Rick is currently scheduled to be released in 2018..."

Sept. 14, 2018 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

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