EQUAL Act of 2018

The EQUAL Act of 2018, also known as Bill 115 hr 4861, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of addressing disparities in sentencing for offenses involving crack cocaine versus powder cocaine. The bill seeks to eliminate the sentencing disparity between these two forms of the drug, which has disproportionately affected minority communities.

Currently, the sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine offenses are much harsher than those for powder cocaine offenses, with individuals convicted of crack cocaine offenses facing significantly longer prison terms. This has led to a disproportionate number of African American and Hispanic individuals being incarcerated for crack cocaine offenses, while white individuals are more likely to be charged with powder cocaine offenses.

The EQUAL Act of 2018 aims to rectify this disparity by equalizing the penalties for crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses. This would mean that individuals convicted of crack cocaine offenses would no longer face harsher sentences than those convicted of powder cocaine offenses. Supporters of the bill argue that the current sentencing disparity is unjust and perpetuates racial inequalities in the criminal justice system. They believe that equalizing the penalties for crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses would help to address these disparities and promote fairness in sentencing. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that crack cocaine is a more dangerous and addictive form of the drug, and therefore warrants harsher penalties. They also raise concerns about the potential impact of the bill on public safety and drug trafficking. Overall, the EQUAL Act of 2018 is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to address long-standing disparities in sentencing for crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses. Its fate in Congress remains uncertain, as lawmakers continue to debate the merits and drawbacks of equalizing penalties for these two forms of the drug.