The 2010 Fair Sentencing Act was long in coming. For decades people convicted of mere possession of crack cocaine were given long prison sentences. The purpose of the harsh, mandatory sentences was to relieve inner-city neighborhoods with a scourge of addiction to a powerful drug. But the disparity between sentences for possession of powder cocaine and crack was long criticized.
Crack Cocaine Sentencing Modifications
Crack possession, even as little as five grams, brought mandatory jail sentences of five years in prison. By contrast, for powder cocaine the same sentence required 500 grams. These harsh sentences were also disparately affecting African-Americans. The new law modifies crack sentences, though they are still much greater than for powder cocaine.
Many people now serving prison sentences will be eligible to apply for sentence reductions. Contact the Law Office of James W. Winslow for further information. Attorney Winslow has over 25 years of experience serving clients throughout the Hudson Valley. For more than a decade he has focused on criminal defense.
Convenience for Our Clients
Our law office is centrally located at 10 Little Britain Road in the city of Newburgh in New York's mid-Hudson Valley region. For our non-English speaking clients, we provide a certified Spanish interpreter.
Contact a Lawyer
Available for our clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can always call our phone lines and leave an emergency phone message. We will step up right away to help you face the complex challenges of your criminal offense. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
