How 3 Joints and an Ounce of Coke Got an Oklahoma Grandfather Life Without Parole

[Brewman_Jax]

Yarbrough's story is exhibit A for the case to rethink life-without-parole laws across the country.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/152038/ho...t_parole_/

From the article:

Quote:Oklahoma State Senator Connie Johnson of Oklahoma thinks Larry Yarbrough should be free. Yarbrough, a model prisoner, is in his 17th year of a life-without-parole sentence for a nonviolent drug crime. On August 17, Sen. Johnson will speak on behalf of Yarbrough at an Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board hearing that will consider commuting Yarbrough’s drug trafficking sentencing. In 2002 the board unanimously commuted his sentence, but former governor Frank Keating overturned that decision and denied Yarbrough his freedom.

If the board agrees with Senator Johnson, the new Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin will have the opportunity to commute Yarbrough’s life sentence for his nonviolent drug offense.

According to Sen. Johnson, Larry Yarbrough’s case is an excellent example of disproportionate and unfair sentencing. Compared to sentences received by others for similar amounts of the same drugs (an ounce of powder cocaine and three marijuana cigarettes), Yarbrough’s life-without-parole (LWOP) sentence is clearly excessive. He has been incarcerated for 17 years, more than sufficient for what he actually did—and far longer than what many serve for the exact same offense.

The Oklahoma Legislature’s original intent in enacting LWOP was to create an alternative between life imprisonment and the death sentence in capital cases. However, unlike death penalty cases where in order to impose such a sentence the jury is required to find aggravating circumstances, a jury recommending LWOP needs no reason whatsoever. This fact guarantees disproportionate and inherently unfair sentencing. At this time 44 people are serving life-without-parole sentences in Oklahoma for average drug crimes.

...

The article doesn't say, but I'd be willing to bet that Larry Yarbrough is black. Many, many reports over the decades have shown the racial disparity in sentencing and policing. Each demographic group offends at roughly the same rate as its population percentage, but not policed and prosecuted based on that information.

The "war on drugs" isn't about drugs.

[jaxx]

This is why prisons are overcrowded. Stupid laws that want to make an example of everyone to show how tough the laws are. Like the 3 strikes rules....people who shouldn't be in prison are lifers. I think the whole thing needs to be revamped. This nonsense is why there is a federal government....so that 50 states couldn't have 50 different rules to be used against the good of the people.

[OptimistesMaddie]

The sentencing date is around the period that Len Bias died....Bias died in 1986 Here is the trailer for the documentry. If you get a chance to see it please do...

Even the guy in DC who came up with the sentencing laws says that the reaction of the government and states was a huge knee jerk reaction


http://30for30.espn.com/film/without-bias.html

Just say No to Drugs! Was the big thing..