Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2005
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2005 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Carrie Coppernoll
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

COCAINE SENTENCING REVIEW SET

The Oklahoma Sentencing Commission decided Thursday to conduct a yearlong 
study of sentencing for crack and powder cocaine convictions in Oklahoma.

The study could result in the board making a recommendation to the Legislature.

Possession of 28 grams or more of powder cocaine is considered trafficking, 
but the trafficking threshold for crack cocaine is only 5 grams. Board 
members discussed whether the threshold should be the same for both forms 
of the drug.

In 2003, 27 people were sentenced for trafficking cocaine, and 22 were 
sentenced for trafficking crack, according to the Oklahoma Criminal Justice 
Resource Center.

In other business, the commission decided to recommend to the Legislature 
that the crime of making false statements to a pawn broker should be a 
misdemeanor rather than a felony if the property involved is unrelated to a 
robbery or burglary and worth less than $500.

In 2003, 142 people were convicted of making false statements to pawn 
brokers, and 26 were sentenced to prison, according to the Oklahoma 
Criminal Justice Resource Center. The crime is punishable by up to five 
years in prison.

Commission Member Robert Ravitz, chief public defender for Oklahoma County, 
said it doesn't make sense to give long-term prison sentences to small-time 
criminals, such as shoplifters, who pawn the merchandise.

"That's a horrible use of taxpayer dollars," he said.
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