Death Watch: Challenges, Disabilities Not Enough (So Far) To Avert Execution

Busby set to die Feb. 10 for 2004 murder in Fort Worth

"...Busby and his companion, Kitty Latimer, had been smoking crack in a Fort Worth hotel room for two weeks..."

Feb. 2, 2021 News Post by Brant Bingamon

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

Next Execution: Halloween

"...Donnie Lee Roberts was addicted to both alcohol and crack cocaine and was under the influence of a cocktail..."

Oct. 26, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Two More in Line for Death Penalty

These two men were both 19 when they were sentenced to death

"...driving his personal vehicle when Haynes drove by; something cracked Kincaid's windshield, and he reportedly thought Haynes had thrown..."

Oct. 19, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

The 5th Street Posse

Neighbors and cops banded together to shut down this open-air drug market

"...blatant. When you walked out the door, there's a crack deal right here – right here! They were not..."

July 13, 2012 News Feature by Jordan 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

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 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

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

Top 10 Joints

The year in drugs

"...nearly 25 years, federal lawmakers finally undid the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine and the mandatory..."

Jan. 7, 2011 News Feature 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 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

The Totally Awesome AusChron Newscast Is in Treatment

WTP4, City Council, and cocaine

"...process. Lastly, we break down the lessening disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing, and bid a fond farewell..."

Aug. 19, 2010 News Post 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

Drug Budget

What does Obama's new drug budget say about his administration's priorities?

"...forward in good faith" to fix the disparity in sentencing between crack and powder cocaine, which has wrought devastating..."

March 5, 2010 News Column by Jordan Smith

Top 9 Joints

"...5) CRACKING THE COCAINE DISPARITY Congress finally voted in favor of..."

Jan. 1, 2010 News Feature 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

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: 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

Nathaniel and Li'l Nate

The two lives and untimely death of Nathaniel Sanders II

"...time on a second-degree felony charge for possession of crack. According to the police report of the January encounter,..."

May 29, 2009 News Feature 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

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 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

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

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

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

Biden Says He's Part of the Problem

"...the U.S. Senate are taking up the issue of sentencing disparities for crack vs. powder cocaine. Sen. Joe Biden,..."

Feb. 12, 2008 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

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

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

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