August 2010
President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine (associated with Black defendants) and powder cocaine (associated with white defendants) from 100:1 to 18:1. Civil rights groups had sought full parity; the compromise was seen as partial progress. The Act was retroactively applied through the First Step Act of 2018.
President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine, associated with Black defendants, and powder cocaine, associated with white defendants, from 100:1 to 18:1. Civil rights groups had sought full parity. The Act was retroactively applied through the First Step Act of 2018.
Events
- August 3, 2010Fair Sentencing Act Reduces — But Does Not Eliminate — Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity
President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine (associated with Black defendants) and powder cocaine (associated with white defendants) from 100:1 to 18:1. Civil rights groups had sought full parity; the compromise was seen as partial progress. The Act was retroactively applied through the First Step Act of 2018.
- August 3, 2010Fair Sentencing Act Reduces Crack-Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity from 100:1 to 18:1
President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, reducing the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine, associated with Black defendants, and powder cocaine, associated with white defendants, from 100:1 to 18:1. Civil rights groups had sought full parity. The Act was retroactively applied through the First Step Act of 2018.