Spending more on prisons means spending less on other public purposes" (2008, p. 120). The area most affected by the ex post facto application of the revised sentencing guidelines would be northern Virginia where almost 900 inmates (fully twice as many as any other region of the nation) would become eligible for early release (McCabe, 2011). The retroactive application of the revised sentencing guidelines in this area alone would realize more than $1 billion in cost savings and help reduce the overcrowded conditions of Virginia's prisons (McCabe, 2011).
Conclusion
The research showed that previous sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine-related offenses were far harsher than comparable penalties for other preparations of the drug. The research also showed that the revised sentencing guidelines contained in the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 address these disparities but the question remains whether to apply these provisions retroactively to currently incarcerated crack cocaine offenders. Proponents maintain that beyond the cost savings that are involved,...
While this highly desirable outcome may border on the Panglossian, fair is fair and from a strictly pragmatic perspective, the retroactive application of the revised sentencing guidelines contained in the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 to currently incarcerated crack cocaine offenders just makes good business sense. More importantly, it will help reverse the ugly trend that unfairly singled out African-Americans for harsher sentences than were being applied to others.
References
A step backward on sentencing. (2011, June 11). Corpus-Christi Caller-Times, A8.
Get out of jail early. (2011, June 11). The Wall Street Journal, A12.
McCabe, S. (2011, June 2). Crack law could spring 1,200 D.C.-area criminals. The Examiner,…
