Crack Cocaine Assignment

Sentencing and discrimination

DUE: On the day of the Midterm 
POINTS: Up to 20

On WebBoard, somebody wrote about the possible racial disparity in
sentencing between rock cocaine and powder:
     
     In the state of Illinois it is unlawful to possess any form of 
     cocaine and the sentencing guidelines are the same for either cocaine
     or crack.
     
     1. 15 to 100 grams - 4 to 15 years
     2. 100 to 400 grams - 6 to 30 years
     3. 400 to 900 grams - 8 to 40 years
     4. 900 or more grams - 10 to 50 years
     5. Any amount of a substance containing cocaine not covered above is 
     guilty of a Class 4 felony. 
     (2001 Edition of West's Illinois Criminal Law and Procedure p.438)
     
     This only reflects the law in Illinois, it may be and usually is 
     different from other states and federal laws.
     
     I personally haven't seen any data but it possible that minorities
     could receive higher sentences than whites which would support 
     your view of racial inequality. Although the law itself may not
     discriminate minorities, the discretion held by the prosecutors
     and judges may play a part during sentencing.
     
The Assiggnment:

In 500 about words:
  a) Why could the law be seen as "racist"  
  b) Has the outcome (see federal prosecution/sentencing statistics)
     led to harsher punishments?
  c) What other laws can you identify that target minorities more heavily
     than Whites?

Hint: Read chapters 4 and 19 of Clear and COle

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