Jul 28, 2010
Congress Passes Bill to Cut Federal Sentences in Crack Cocaine Cases
Lawmakers on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would reduce the long-standing disparity between federal sentences for crack and powder cocaine distribution. For years, critics have blasted the distinction between crack and cocaine sentencing as having a disproportionate impact on African-American men; 5 grams of crack triggers a mandatory five-year sentence while it takes 500 grams of cocaine to trigger the same sentence.