Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation that would equalize the sentences meted out for powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. Currently, "it takes 100 times as much powdered cocaine as crack to trigger the same mandatory minimum sentence" as received with crack cocaine. The consequences have been staggering.
Crack cocaine is disproportionately used by African Americans and many experts believe the sentencing disparity helped fuel an explosion in the number of African Americans serving time for non-violent drug offenses. Instead of getting rehabilitation, they would receive 20 years hard-time. Meanwhile, users of powder cocaine would be eligible suspended sentences.
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