WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 265, The Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2009

Comment by Toya (August 30, 2009, 01:00:00)

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A guy I know who killed a good friend of mine was sentenced to thirty years with fifteen being mandatory. My bestfriend is facing 27 due to the harsh mandatory minimums. The laws are unjust unfair and shatters the lives of so many who deserve a second chance. I do not understand how we can say the laws of this great land are justice when a murderer gets 30 years and people associated with drugs are getting life sentences. No ifs, no ands, not buts about it. Instead of judging the person we judge the crime. I will continue to pray as long as I have breath in my body that these laws are modified. All we want is justice, fairness, elimination of such a disparity. Is that really to much to ask?...

Comment by Kelly Albert Drayer (July 21, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Perhaps stiffer fines levied against whom had responsibility.Underb the exercise of grown adults being violated repeatedly and the local "Brother" group ignoreing the law to create leverage illegally against thoughs not involved but trying to side grab personal property illegally legal....

Comment by rio (July 10, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

i pray that this bill gets passed...

Comment by sierah1 (May 6, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

My husband is the feature story in the November Coalition Razor Wire. Please read his story. This is extremely unjust. Go to; november.org ... click on Tony Cartwright's name #12131-084. I am very sick with leukemia. I have only a 5% chance of surviving without a bone marrow transplant. With the transplant I have a 40% chance. I have gone threw extensive chemo for the past 3 months. My own friends don't even recognize me anymore. I have to tell them who I am. My husband worked at the same job for 25 yrs. before this happened to him. I was working 3 jobs 7 days a week before I was diagnosed in January of this year with this horible disease. Now I am on total disability,I live alone because my husband is incarcerated so my sister has been taking care of me. I need my husband home to help me. I have written to everyone many times crying for help. Please, please pass this bill....

Comment by Ms. Pink (April 18, 2009, 01:00:00)

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

My finance is serving 17yrs for this and he wasnt even caught with drugs on him. The drug were found and his friend and they admitted it, but because he was prior convictions he was sentenced unjustly and unfairly too. I agree that our system is for the murders and child molesters. PLEASE vote on this bill!...

Comment by valerie (April 8, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

my son is serving a life sentence for drug conspiracy, he say, she say.This system isunfair , allowing convictsed felons testialie to get their time reduce. My son made mistakes but it shouldnt cost him his life, he was 25yrs old in 2002, now he's 31yrs old, no children, a family that loves him ve much. How can murderers get 2to5 years and get out,rappist get away scot free. IS THIS FAIR.......

Comment by bazaarjew (March 30, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

my father is locked up fr this reason and he is serving life for drugs and killers are getting 20 years its not fair and my father needs to be released he has kids and a family to attend to. everybody makes mistakes but we still walk around with our lives so why shouldnt they have theres if threy havent taken anyones. pass the bill, we want our fathers!...

Comment by BR749 (March 30, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Does it take an act of Congress to judge aright? Bureaucracy or Big Brother. An impersonal force dominating the lives of individuals....

Revision by webmaster (February 10, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 265 would target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Detailed Summary

Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2009 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to increase the amount of a controlled substance or mixture containing a cocaine base (i.e., crack cocaine) required for the imposition of mandatory minimum prison terms for crack cocaine trafficking to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend, if appropriate, its sentencing guidelines for trafficking in a controlled substance to reflect the use of a dangerous weapon or violence in such crime and the culpability and the role of the defendant in such crime, taking into account certain aggravating and mitigating factors.

Directs the Attorney General to make grants to improve drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.

Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to establish demonstration programs to reduce the use of alcohol and other drugs by substance abusers while incarcerated and until the completion of parole or court supervision.

Increases monetary penalties for drug trafficking and for the importation and exportation of controlled substances.

Authorizes appropriations to the Departments of Justice (DOJ), the Treasury, and Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2009-FY2010 for the prosecution of, and for supporting the prosecution of, high-level drug offenses.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 2/9/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of February 9, 2009

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

2/9/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Revision by webmaster (January 28, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 265 would target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Detailed Summary

Eliminates the five-year mandatory minimum prison term for first-time possession of crack cocaine.

Directs the Attorney General to make grants to improve drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.

Increases monetary penalties for drug trafficking and for the importation and exportation of controlled substances.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 1/7/2009: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Revision by webmaster (January 8, 2009, 01:00:00)

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 265 would target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to update the status of the bill!)

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Revision by webmaster (January 8, 2009, 01:00:00)

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

H.R. 265 would target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)

Status as of January 7, 2009

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

1/7/2009: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.