Skip to content
Home
>
News
>
Obama seeks to change crack sentences

Obama seeks to change crack sentences

By: Magnolia Tribune - April 30, 2009

Obama seeks to change crack sentences

The Obama administration joined a federal judge Wednesday in urging Congress to end a racial disparity by equalizing prison sentences for dealing and using crack versus powdered cocaine.

“Jails are loaded with people who look like me,” U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, an African-American, told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said the administration believes Congress’ goal “should be to completely eliminate the disparity” between the two forms of cocaine. “A growing number of citizens view it as fundamentally unfair,” Breuer testified.

AP
4/29/9

About the Author(s)
author profile image

Magnolia Tribune

This article was produced by Magnolia Tribune staff.