Race Based Justice...

Atty. Gen. Holder Proposes Retroactive Breaks in Crack Cocaine Convictions

Summary:   Last year congress reduced FEDERAL sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine.  The sentencing guidelines are used by judges to sentence people after being convicted - its based on the amount of drugs they were found responsible for, their criminal history, and their cooperation after arrest.  Many argued that the sentencing guidelines were RACIST, because they were much harsher for crack cocaine than they were for powder cocaine. 

The racist part comes in because of the view that crack cocaine is favored by blacks.  Which is a racist view.  The sentencing guidelines matched that of meth - which is favored by whites. 

The harsher sentences were meant to deter people from using the far more dangerous form of the drug.  A point I agree with - is that the users don't care - so enhanced sentencing has not worked as a deterrent.  So, for that reason, I don't care much either way.

However...these are FEDERAL guidelines.  People in prison for FEDERAL drug charges are not targeted because they use drugs - they are targeted because they DISTRIBUTE, SELL, or TRANSPORT drugs. 

That is the part that the ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES fails to mention in his sob story...