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Noting the latest state of the crack-powder sentencing debate

By Douglas A. Berman

The Washington Post has this new article reviewing the latest developments in the never-ending debate over federal crack and powder sentencing terms.  The piece is headlined "Two Judges Target Cocaine Penalties: Disparity for Crack Crimes Criticized," and here is how it starts: Federal judges are beginning to equalize punishment for crack and powder cocaine crimes, resulting in shorter prison terms for crack dealers and putting pressure on Congress to address a wide disparity in how the legal system handles cocaine-related offenses. In two recent rulings and interviews, a federal judge in the District and one in Iowa said they had policy differences with Congress and a judicial commission that they said did not go far enough to change the guidelines for crack sentences in 2007...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on June 29, 2009 (boomark / email).