Pubdate: Tue, 08 Feb 2005
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA)
Copyright: 2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/408
Website: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/
Author: Bill Piper, Guest Columnist
Note: Bill Piper is director of national affairs for the Drug Policy 
Alliance; www.drugpolicy.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/federal+sentencing (Federal Sentencing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

COURT OFFERS CHANCE OF SENTENCE REFORM

In a recent pair of drug-related cases, the Supreme Court ruled that 
federal sentencing guidelines are advisory and judges do not have to follow 
them in every case (U.S. v. Booker and U.S. v. Fanfan). This ruling, which 
surprised many, holds both promise and danger, depending on what Congress does.

If legislators overreact and seek quick fixes, they will most likely end up 
exacerbating problems, such as racial disparities, unnecessary 
"federalization" of crime and the incarceration of innocent people. If they 
move slowly and work together, they could pass legislation that would save 
money and increase public safety.

Legislators should keep five things in mind:

* The ruling affects only federal sentencing guidelines, which are 
developed by the U.S. Sentencing Commission to help judges impose fair 
sentences. It does not affect any statutory penalties Congress has enacted, 
including mandatory minimums, which trump the guidelines and force judges 
to impose often very lengthy pre-determined sentences.

* Judges will continue to apply the guidelines in most cases, so the ruling 
does not create any immediate problems requiring Congress to respond.

* If legislators do respond, they should not enact any new mandatory 
minimums because the consensus of criminal justice experts is they have 
done much more harm than good.

* Any attempt to overhaul federal sentencing must include reform of drug 
laws, which are responsible for the most egregious inequities in our 
criminal justice system. Mandatory minimum sentences and federal 
prosecution of low-level offenses are driving the rapid expansion of the 
federal prison system. More than half of federal prisoners are drug 
offenders and their incarceration costs taxpayers about $3 billion a year.

* Members of Congress need not debate reform in the dark. A growing number 
of states already have reformed their drug laws, including Arizona, 
California, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New York and Texas. 
These states prove it is possible to both save money and improve public safety.

Real reform should include:

Reprioritizing resources toward high-level traffickers, violent criminals 
and terrorists. Too many federal resources are wasted on low-level drug 
offenses that already are illegal under state law.

Diverting non-violent offenders to drug treatment instead of prison. 
Treatment is cheaper and more effective at reducing recidivism.

Reforming harsh drug laws that punish non-violent drug offenders more 
severely than rapists and murderers. Congress should eliminate mandatory 
minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses and direct the U.S. 
Sentencing Commission to develop appropriate sentences.

Eliminating the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity between crack and powder 
cocaine offenses. This should be done by lowering the draconian crack 
penalties to equal those of powder. Congress should not increase penalties 
for powder offenses.

Fixing drug conspiracy laws so offenders are punished only for the crimes 
they commit, not the crimes of people they associate with. In particular, 
Congress should ensure that abused or misguided women are not punished for 
the offenses of their husbands and boyfriends.

Preventing people from being sent to prison because of unproven 
accusations. Congress should require collaborating evidence in all drug 
cases to prevent people from be convicted based solely on the word of one 
person (an informant who is paid for each person convicted, a drug offender 
getting a reduced sentence for testifying against others).

Repealing federal bans that deny student loans, welfare and other benefits 
to former offenders. Congress should encourage -- not prevent -- drug 
offenders from getting their lives back together.

If members of Congress look to the states for guidance, they can pass 
bipartisan legislation to make our federal justice system fairer, cheaper 
and more effective at reducing crime.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake