CRACK COCAINE VERSUS POWDER COCAINE SENTENCING DIFFERENTIALS: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OR SCIENTIFICALLY BASED?

THE NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW BLACK ALLIED LAW STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Presents “CRACK COCAINE VERSUS POWDER COCAINE SENTENCING DIFFERENTIALS: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OR SCIENTIFICALLY BASED?”

Thursday, April 13, 2000 at 2:00 pm -- NYU School of Law, 40 Washington Square South

Currently, an individual can possess 100 times more powder cocaine than crack cocaine and still receive the same amount of punishment in federal court. The Symposium will explore the justifications for the current 100:1, powder cocaine to crack cocaine, federal sentencing differential. Examining whether racial discrimination underlies this difference in sentencing will be a special focus.

Panelists include:

Dr. Steven Belenko--Senior Research Associate, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Paul Butler, Associate Professor of Law, George Washington University School of Law--Author of "Racially Based Jury Nullification: Black Power in the Criminal Justice System", "Color Blind Faith: The Tragedy of Race, Crime and the Law", and "Starr is to Clinton As Regular Prosecutors Are to Blacks"

Zachary Carter('75), Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York (1993-1999)

F. Michael Higginbotham, New York University School of Law Adjunct Professor, will moderate the discussion.

The media and public are invited to attend. Registration begins at 1:30 pm.; symposium begins at 2:00 pm. Welcoming and opening remarks by John Sexton, dean of NYU School of Law. Opening address by F. Michael Higginbotham. A Q & A and reception will follow the discussion. For more information, contact: Abena Glasgow at (212) 443-5172 or sag225@is6.nyu.edu.

03/29/00