In that regard, sentences imposed for crack cocaine are so much harsher that approximately 100 times as much powdered cocaine is required to approach the sentences imposed in connection with crack cocaine offenses. This issue is particularly relevant to the disparity inherent in mandatory sentencing and arbitrariness in sentencing, especially since dealers in powdered cocaine are much more likely higher up on the supply chain than distributors of crack cocaine (USSC, 2007).
The issues concerning provisions of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act pertain to establishing sentences for crimes established and defined by the ACT, such as narco- terrorism, smuggling munitions or military equipment without a license for transport, mining U.S. waters, and interfering with maritime navigation equipment (USSC, 2007).
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 requires sex offenders to register and imposes criminal penalties for failure to comply. The current federal sentencing issues authorize increasing sentences for failure to register where that failure occurs in conjunction with other relevant offenses related to the welfare of children, in particular. The sentencing issues arising in connection with counterfeit goods involves increasing sentences for violations of existing laws in relation to the relative value of the counterfeited (legitimate) goods, as well as for the use of certain specific devices designed to circumvent security devices within computerized chips intended to thwart the use of pirated gaming software (USSC, 2007). The Sentencing Project and National Association of Sentencing Advocates:
According to its homepage, the mission of the Sentencing Project is to work toward reforming unfair and ineffective criminal justice policies by promoting alternatives to incarceration that are more beneficial to society. In that regard, the Sentencing Project also seeks to minimize the unintended consequences of criminal justice policies as well (Sentencingproject.org,...
(2002) Environmental Corrections: A New Paradigm for Effective Probation and Parole Supervision.
Lynch, M.J. (1999) Beating a Dead Horse: Is Their Any Basic Empirical Evidence for the Deterrent Effect of Imprisonment?
Schmalleger, F. (2001) Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century. New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Sentencingproject.org
United States Sentencing Commission (2007) Guidelines; May/07. Retrieved October 29, 2008, at http://www.ussc.gov/NEWSLETT/may2007.pdf
