Clinton OKs Bill Keeping Stiff Sentences for Crack

WASHINGTON —  President Clinton signed legislation Monday to preserve the stiff mandatory prison sentences for those caught with tiny amounts of crack cocaine.

“We have to send a constant message to our children that drugs are illegal, drugs are dangerous, drugs may cost you your life--and the penalties for dealing drugs are severe,” he said. “I am not going to let anyone who peddles drugs get the idea that the cost of doing business is going down.

“Tough penalties for crack trafficking are required because of the effect on individuals and families, related gang activity, turf battles and other violence,” he added.

The President rejected the recommendation of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which in May proposed that the punishments be levied for crack and powder cocaine violations. By law, the seven-member commission sets the punishments for federal violations, but its recommendations can be blocked by Congress and the President.

Since 1986, federal law has set a five-year mandatory minimum prison term for anyone caught with crack cocaine and 10 years to life for those found with more than 10 grams. No similar penalties govern convictions involving powder cocaine. It generally requires possession of 500 grams of powder cocaine to get a five-year sentence.

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Many federal judges, as well as the Congressional Black Caucus, say that this sharp disparity in sentencing is both unjustified and unfair. A recent study found that 96% of those prosecuted for crack violations were black or Latino.

But both Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress have refused to go along with the change, the first time in seven years that a commission proposal has been blocked.

“Some adjustment [in the penalties involving crack] is warranted,” Clinton said in his veto message, and he urged the commission “to undertake additional review of these issues.”