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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth