Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #endthedisparity
Most recents (2)
This is a big deal. Thank you @RSI for getting into the fight for bipartisan sentencing reform. Work your magic, @senatorshoshana.
@RSI @senatorshoshana Allow me to expand. This is a big deal because it's another policy heavyweight, with significant credibility on the Hill, coming out in favor of a sentencing reform package that's flying under the radar of most reporters, but will do a lot of good once enacted.
@RSI @senatorshoshana But @RSI is *also* endorsing the Equal Act, as a matter of public safety and common sense. That bill would finally #endthedisparity in crack and powder cocaine punishment, but faces an uncertain future in the Senate despite a resounding 6-1 vote in the House.
For the past 15 years, no one - NO ONE - has suggested that federal powder cocaine mandatory minimums are too light. Now that legislation has been introduced to make crack sentences equal to powder sentences, some are suggesting the powder thresholds should be lowered. What?!?!
Keep in mind that when the drug safety valve was expanded in the First Step Act just 3 years ago, no one expressed any concern that this would allow more powder defendants to get shorter sentences. (We did hear that about fentanyl.) Most people who support reform acknowledge...
that weight alone isn't a good proxy for culpability or role. So why now do we only hear about the need to toughen powder sentences when an effort is made to adjust crack penalties to equalize them? Seems so disingenuous. Could it be because cocaine is a growing problem?
