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The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 and mandatory minimum statutes have had a severe impact on the African American population. The policy changes during America’s “War on Drugs” reflected a “get tough” attitude toward drug offenses, and severe penalties were established. Mandatory minimums were set up to sentence drug offenders based on the quantity of drugs in possession, and made crack cocaine a seemingly more unlawful substance over powdered cocaine. For instance, possession of five grams of crack carries a mandatory minimum of five years, whereas, possession of powdered cocaine has a much less severe penalty.

Research suggests African Americans are much more likely than Whites to receive mandatory minimum convictions. The author further stated that Blacks are more likely to possess crack cocaine, whereas Whites are more likely to possess powdered cocaine. A 1996 study by the Justice Policy Institute found that compared to Whites, African Americans “were five times more likely to be arrested for drug felonies, seven times more likely to be sent to prison, and 13 times more likely to be sentenced under the "Three Strikes, you’re out" law.”

(Source: K. Perez, African Americans and the Criminal Justice System; Photo: Chris Cozzone, prisonzone.com)