Reply #8: Mandatory sentences

[Alacrat]

also are, or were, race based. The sentences for possession of crack( used mostly by poor blacks) vs powder coke (rich whites) were extremely biased. I know there was a push for change in mandatory sentences, to end the bias, I don't know what the outcome was. The drug culture has changed over the years. Crack, once used mainly by poor blacks, is now a suburban problem. Meth is mainly a poor white problem, but that is changing every day, it's use has spread to the burbs, and to blacks. The one that kills me, and it isn't racially biased, the sentences for narcotics, ie. pills, lortab, percadan. The sentences are mandatory, and people are charged per pill. There was a story in the paper about a girl who was busted in a sting for selling dalaudid, she sold three pills, and was sentenced 10 years per pill. She had no previous record, and the judge didn't want to do it, but he had to because of mandated sentences. I had a friend, a fellow firefighter, who hurt his back on the job. He was given pain medication over a period of months, he became addicted. His doctor cut him off, so he bought them on the street, and was busted for possession. He is awaiting trial, I hope some how the judge can find a way to help him, and not send him to jail, this man is not a criminal. The prisons are full of people just like him, they go to jail, detox while there, return to somewhat normal, regret the hell out of their actions, but because politicians want to show everyone how tough they are on crime, the people get sent away. I also find it repulsive limbaugh, or a senator, congressman's kid, etc.. can get busted and nothing comes of it. Again sorry for the rant, I get mad thinking of my friend, and all the others that have been victims of the war on drugs.