2/28/95
URGENT: Letters Needed at the Sentencing Commission by March 7th Please
write to the US Sentencing Commission in support of the following three
proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines:
#37: Marijuana -- changes the plant-weight ratio to 1 plant = 100 grams.
(Currently 1 plant is considered 100 grams for 49 plants or fewer, but
becomes 1 kilo [1000 grams] for 50 plants or more, with the effect that
defendants convicted for 50 plants get prison terms about 3 times as long
as for 49 plants..)
#38: Crack Cocaine -- reduces the sentencing disparity between crack and
powder cocaine. Currently 1 gram of crack is considered equivalent to 100
grams of powder cocaine. (Crack offenders are typically black, while powder
offenders are typically white.) Please tell the commission you think the
ratio should be 1:1 at the current level of powder cocaine.
#42, Sec. 7: "Sting" Cases -- Tightens up the criterion for what
quantity of drugs in a transaction may be used in a sentencing determination.
Currently people are being sentenced for "conspiracy" on the
basis of quantities of drugs discussed but never purchased, present, or
even agreed on by the defendant.
Letters must be received by March 7th to be considered in the Sentencing
Commission's deliberations.
Send to:
U.S. Sentencing Commission, One Columbus Circle NE
South Lobby, 2-500
Washington, DC 20002-8002
Please include the amendment numbers about which you are writing on the
front of your envelope.
For more information on mandatory minimums and the federal sentencing
guidelines contact:
Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 457-5790, 457-8564 (fax)
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