Posession of crack won't get you five years anymore

A new law removes the mandatory five year sentence for possession of crack.

Yesterday, President Obama signed a law that changes the way the courts hand out sentences for crack cocaine; simple possession won't automatically require five years in prison. For 25 years the law slammed crack users of five grams (about two sugar packs) of crack in jail for five years. Judges had no choice. In the resulting time statistics showed 83 percent of those charged with crack were African-American. What was disparate is that it took it took 500 grams of powder cocaine to get the same sentence. Powder cocaine was the drug of choice of whites.

Groups have been trying to change the law for 25 years and in the meantime jails have been filling all over the country, running up costs and using up law enforcement time that could be better spent on major crime syndicates instead of low-level street corner hustlers. The government estimates that it spends $42 million a year locking up crack cocaine offenders.

When there is a 100:1 disparity that parses out along racial lines, there is a problem. The new law addresses the problem but doesn't make it even.
There will still be an 18:1 disparity in the sentences but it's a tremendous improvement. It is a plus for the Obama administration because it was no easy task; no repeal of mandatory drug sentencing laws have passed Congress since the 1970's.

The changes don't endorse crack use or powder cocaine use. It makes the sentencing more in line with reality and fairness.

It's justice coming late, but never-the-less appreciated. "The wheels of justice grind slow, but exceedingly fine."

Thinking of justice, I'm reminded of Amos 5:24 that says, "But let justice run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."

Now, wouldn't it be great if the law applied retroactively to free those still serve disproportionate sentences?

That would be real justice.

She was the bad driver, but he got the ticket

She did wrong, he got the ticket; a case of injustice.

Have you ever been the victim of an unjust decision? Most of us have. It's not a great feeling.

Yesterday our bus driver began negotiating at right turn in a busy Atlanta intersection. As he swung out a woman decided to squeeze pass the bus as it turned. Her move resulted in a fender bender. She apologized to the driver, saying she thought she could make it through the tiny space between the bus and curb. She was very polite, apologetic and humble. When the police arrived, both accounts were told but the officer gave the bus driver the ticket.

The driver was stunned. The lady was surprised because she fully expected to get the ticket. She drove off smiling, leaving our driver frustrated because he felt himself the victim of an injustice.

Injustices may come on a small scale in the case of fender benders or in larger situations such as racial discrimination, intimidations or unfair practices. All injustices, whether large or small, leave victims.

We are surrounded by injustice but we are encouraged to remain just ourselves, remaining firm in our faith.

Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold, ...the just shall live by his faith."

It was an injustice, but our driver is strong. He is a man of faith.