The difference in perception and sentencing of cases of crack cocaine and powder cocaine raises a major inequality problem in legislation and society. The law is based on stereotypes and biases about types of cocaine and those involved in drug activity. At the same time, a person convicted with just five grams of crack cocaine (10 to 50 doses) is sentenced to a five-year mandatory minimum. The penalty in a case with powder cocaine will be triggered if the offense involves 500 grams (2,500 to 5,000 doses) (Coyle). The crack and powder cocaine offenses must be modified, granting the right to a fair hearing.
However, strict sentencing fails to restrict drug business among high-level dealers due to actively pursuing only low-level workers, such as street dealers or couriers. Such an approach not only limits the efficiency of the law but also supports racial disparity. While the primary consumers of crack cocaine are white and Hispanic, black people are the most accused of dealing, 80% versus 8.8 and 8.4% (Coyle). Furthermore, false information about the concept of a “crack baby” or the image of a dealer prevents the public from resolving problems with cocaine sentencing (Coyle). It creates prejudice that is reflected in social indifference to the problem. Therefore, the system of sentencing in the cocaine trade must be changed.
Therefore, there are several ways to resolve drug problems efficiently. The first point is grand equal penalties for both types of cocaine offenses while not increasing the existing mandatory sentences. Only increasing sentences for powder cocaine cases would not reduce the amount of racial inequality. Secondly, Congress should target not low-level dealers but the highest drug businesses that represent the real threat to society. Thus, the process and sentences must be the same, regardless of race or status.
Work Cited
Coyle, Michael. “Race and Class Penalties in Crack Cocaine Sentencing.” The Sentencing Project, 2002.