A 25-year-old law set mandatory minimum sentences in crack cocaine cases . The U.S. Sentencing Commission has said that the guidelines are too harsh and should be changed to reflect a more lenient sentence. The new law 's supporters say it offsets disparities in penalties . Conyers : The old law pushed the number of drug offenders in federal prison to nearly 100,000 .
A 25-year-old law set mandatory minimum sentences in crack cocaine cases . Crack cocaine sentences were more severe than those in powder cocaine cases . The new law 's supporters say it offsets disparities in penalties . Conyers : The old law pushed the number of drug offenders in federal prison to nearly 100,000 .