Critics from the Equal Justice Initiative said the state's harsh drug penalties discriminate against minority communities and are responsible for the state's overcrowded prisons. The group pointed out the contrast between penalties for drug offenses and those for DUI, which isn't even a felony until the fourth offense. Moreover, felony DUI sentences average half those for first-degree marijuana possession.

"Even though penalties for drunk driving have become more severe, they are still very modest compared to the punishments for drug offenses," said Mark Mauer, assistant director of the Sentencing Project. "And you think about the people who are affected by this: Drunk drivers are predominantly white and the majority of drug offenders are African-American. There's two forms of substance abuse and two very different approaches, but both of them can be harmful in a different way."

Drug offenses accounted for 3,202 of the 10,267 Alabama prison admissions in 2004, twice the number of prisoners confined for robbery, murder, rape, and manslaughter combined. Alabama prisons are currently at twice their intended capacity.

Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, said that police are more likely to target minorities for drug crimes, and that impoverished drug offenders often have poor courtroom representation, resulting in longer sentences. "We're too harsh in the drug context," he said. "Why is someone serving life in prison for simple possession?"

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Cheryl Morga on 21 May 08 08:41 PM EDT

My son was busted in Alabama for possession of marijuna and a small amount of crack...this is the first time he has been in trouble, the lawyer told him the plea deal from the DA is a felony on his record...Why can they offer these young men an alternative like mandated community service? Speaking at the community centers to urge other young men of the trouble drugs can cause...what about allowing them to serve nights and weekends in jail instead of taking yet another young Black Man from his family. I do not condone my son behavior, there has got to me another way to punish these young men instead opening another prison cell...

Your Turn! Post a public comment (guidelines):

Name:
Comment: (limit 200 words)
Enter this word (help):	Change

GUIDELINES:
Comments are meant for thoughtful public discussion of the article published above. Therefore:

1. Keep it clean, courteous, focused, and on-topic.
   
   
2. Do not post personal requests for help (see resources).
   
   
3. Proof your comments carefully for spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.
   
   
4. Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated comments are prohibited.
   

We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.