- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Obama wants to let low-level drug offenders out of prison
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:47 am
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:47 am
For as much criticizing as we do about the guy and his policies, we must give credit where credit is due.
Let my people go!!
Now, until actions are taken, I will not rejoice. But, this is a big step in the right direction!
Let my people go!!
quote:
The Obama administration, in its effort to curtail severe penalties in low-level drug cases, is taking the unprecedented step of encouraging defense lawyers to suggest inmates whom the president might let out of prison early.
Speaking at a New York State Bar Association event Thursday, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole said the Justice Department wanted to send more names to White House for clemency consideration.
“This is where you can help,” he said, in remarks the Justice Department circulated in advance.
Prison officials will also spread the word among inmates that low-level, nonviolent drug offenders might be eligible to apply for clemency.
RELATED COVERAGE
video Video: A Sentence for a FamilyDEC. 21, 2013
The clemency drive is part of the administration’s effort to undo sentencing discrepancies that began during the crack epidemic decades ago. Offenses involving crack, which was disproportionately used in black communities, carried more severe penalties than crimes involving powder cocaine, which was usually favored by affluent white users.
quote:
“There are more low-level, nonviolent drug offenders who remain in prison, and who would likely have received a substantially lower sentence if convicted of precisely the same offenses today,” Mr. Cole said. “This is not fair, and it harms our criminal justice system.”
Now, until actions are taken, I will not rejoice. But, this is a big step in the right direction!
13
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:50 am to CherryGarciaMan
I second that. 
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:51 am to CherryGarciaMan
Unless he is talking about just federal prisoners, he needs to stay the hell out of any state's business as to state crimes and state sentencing guidelines. Yeah - it's out of whack but the states need to clean this up; not told how to by the federal govt.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:52 am to Diamondawg
shite yea! 
hopefully now all Dems will start getting behind it
hopefully now all Dems will start getting behind it
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:54 am to Diamondawg
Crack=federally mandated mandatory minimums.
And you're saying that states in the south are gonna fix their prison population?
How many people are in Angola and are kept under severe conditions unjustly?
Ever hear of Clarence Aaron? Google him, please, and tell me that all efforts on the part of our nation should not be utilized to decrease our prison population.
FWIW, yes. He is speaking about fed pens.
And you're saying that states in the south are gonna fix their prison population?
How many people are in Angola and are kept under severe conditions unjustly?
Ever hear of Clarence Aaron? Google him, please, and tell me that all efforts on the part of our nation should not be utilized to decrease our prison population.
FWIW, yes. He is speaking about fed pens.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 11:56 am to CherryGarciaMan
quote:Working on it now in our state. The cost is killing us.
And you're saying that states in the south are gonna fix their prison population?
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:00 pm to Diamondawg
Well, kudos.
I reside in a state that houses more women in prison than any other state, and houses more males than 46 states, and they ain't doing shite.
In fact, Tulsa is working on raising taxes to build a bigger jail.
I reside in a state that houses more women in prison than any other state, and houses more males than 46 states, and they ain't doing shite.
In fact, Tulsa is working on raising taxes to build a bigger jail.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:02 pm to CherryGarciaMan
A broken clock is right twice a day I suppose.
Good step in the right direction.
I wonder what his two steps backward will be.
Good step in the right direction.
I wonder what his two steps backward will be.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:10 pm to CherryGarciaMan
So why doesn't he? Doesn't he have the constitutional authority?
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:11 pm to DonChowder
quote:+1
I second that
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:12 pm to CherryGarciaMan
New voters needed for dems.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:15 pm to C
quote:
So why doesn't he? Doesn't he have the constitutional authority?
He is. The the DOJ is asking defense lawyers to submit names for clemency. Then, he will use his phone and pen and make it happen.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:21 pm to CherryGarciaMan
What is a "low level drug offender" and how many of them are in federal prison?
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:26 pm to GeauxxxTigers23
In my opinion, nobody who is caught with drugs should be in prison.
BUT, low-level drug offenders constitute possession only charges, usually with crack and almost always a minority.
The sentencing project
BUT, low-level drug offenders constitute possession only charges, usually with crack and almost always a minority.
quote:
Composition of the Federal Prison Population – Mostly Non-Violent
· More than half (55%) of federal prisoners are serving time for a drug offense, and 13% for a
violent offense.
· Nearly three-fourths (72.1%) of the population are non-violent offenders with no history of
violence.
· One-third (34.4%) are first-time, non-violent offenders.
· More than half (55.7%) of persons sentenced for a drug offense in 2002 fell into the lowest
criminal history category (Category 1) of the sentencing guidelines, and in 87% of cases no
weapon was involved.
quote:
Between 1994 and 2002, the average time served by African Americans for a drug offense
increased by 73%, compared to an increase of 28% for white drug offenders.
· In 1994, African Americans served an average of 33.1 months for a drug offense; this grew
to 57.2 months by 2002.
· Time served for drug offenses for whites increased from 29.1 months in 1994 to 37.2 months
in 2002.
· African Americans now serve virtually as much time in prison for a drug offense (57.2
months) as whites do for a violent offense (58.8 months).
Proportion of Low-Level Crack and Cocaine Offenders Increasing
· The majority of persons sentenced for both crack and powder cocaine offenses in 2000 were
convicted of low-level functions in the drug trade. More than half (59.9%) of powder
cocaine offenders were either street-level dealers or couriers/mules, while two-thirds (66.5%)
of crack cocaine offenders fell into these categories.
· The proportion of low-level offenders has been increasing in recent years. Low-level powder
cocaine offenders rose from 38.1% in 1995 to 59.9% in 2000, while low-level crack cocaine
offenders increased from 48.4% to 66.5% in this period.
Crack/Cocaine Sentencing Policy Key to Drug Disparities
· 81.4% of crack cocaine defendants in 2002 were African American, while about two-thirds
of crack cocaine users in the general population are white or Hispanic.
· The average sentence for a crack cocaine offense in 2002 (119 months) was more than three
years greater than for powder cocaine (78 months).
· Recent reform proposals of the crack/cocaine mandatory sentencing laws would cut in half
the difference (from 34.2 months to 16.4 months) in time served in prison for drug trafficking
between African Americans and whites.
The sentencing project
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:31 pm to GeauxxxTigers23
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/31/14 at 7:15 pm
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:34 pm to CherryGarciaMan
I'm gonna preface this by saying that I believe having or using drugs should be legal. Selling them should carry harsh sentences. I'm talking about hard drugs now, not pot.
How many people are in prison solely for possessing drugs? I would imagine most were arrested for other crimes with drugs in their system or on their person and the drug charge was just tacked on.
How many people are in prison solely for possessing drugs? I would imagine most were arrested for other crimes with drugs in their system or on their person and the drug charge was just tacked on.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:38 pm to CherryGarciaMan
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:39 pm to GeauxxxTigers23
quote:
How many people are in prison solely for possessing drugs? I would imagine most were arrested for other crimes with drugs in their system or on their person and the drug charge was just tacked on.
Nearly three-fourths (72.1%) of the population are non-violent offenders with no history of
violence.
That is the federal numbers.
We have over a million people in federal prison. 1,000,000 people.
If you are not violent, and either an addict or making easy money, you should not be a strain on the criminal justice system.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:44 pm to CherryGarciaMan
quote:
Nearly three-fourths (72.1%) of the population are non-violent offenders with no history of
violence.
How many of those are for drug offenses only? As in simple possession? I think most federal crimes are non-violent anyway. Mostly white collar shite and trafficking across state lines. Selling hard drugs should be illegal IMO. They ruin fricking lives and the users and their families are the victims. I wouldn't want them wasting time on simple possession or using. You should have the right to put whatever you want in your body. But pushing that shite is up there with murder to me.
Posted on 1/30/14 at 12:45 pm to CherryGarciaMan
do the crime, do the time.
Page 1 of 4
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News