Allard Voices Opposition to Reduced Sentences for Drug Dealers

Press Release

ALLARD VOICES OPPOSITION TO REDUCED SENTENCES FOR DRUG DEALERS

Colorado Lawmaker Expresses Concern With Retroactive Changes to Drug Sentencing Policy

U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) sent a letter today to Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, Chairman of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, regarding his concerns with recent changes to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines pertaining to crack cocaine. A particular concern for Allard is a decision to retroactively reduce sentences for drug offenders.

"I must question the wisdom of releasing serious drug dealers with firearms convictions back into our communities at the same time that many of these communities are experiencing increases in violent crime and more frequent gun violence," said Allard. "I believe that the American public has vested Congress with the responsibility to establish or modify federal sentencing policies. Congress created the Commission to collect information on sentences and their imposition and to make recommendations to Congress for its use in enacting federal sentences."

Allard has voiced particular concern that any decision by the Commission to apply its crack cocaine amendments retroactively will significantly shorten the sentence or result in the release of major crack dealers with long criminal records, including firearms offenses. Yet those convicted of simple possession will see little, if any, reduction.

In the letter to Hinojosa, Allard expressed his concerned that the retroactivity application of the Commission's April amendment will threaten America's public safety and usurp Congress' authority to perform a thorough, democratic review of the issue.

In 1997, Allard introduced ‘The Powder-Crack Cocaine Penalty Equalization Act" in an effort to address what he referred to at the time as ‘one of the most longstanding and racially sensitive disputes in the criminal justice system."

The 1997 legislation provided a twofold solution: It corrected the inequality in penalties which has contributed to the perceived race bias in sentencing; while stiffening the penalty for powder cocaine offenses, which are currently far too lenient.

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