Race, Civil Liberties, and Drug Enforcement

Race | Civil Liberties

Race

Illicit Drugs -- Burden and Policy, October 21, 2005.
The City of Hartford, CT sponsored a conference, "Illicit Drugs -- Burden and Policy," to address the city's chronic violence, crime and drug abuse problems. Eric E. Sterling's keynote speech on the economics of prohibition and the racist foundation of the drug war received the highest evaluations from conference participants. Click here to listen to his speech.

Sterling, E.E. (2004). Drug Policy: A Challenge of values. Criminal Justice: Retribution vs. Restoration. New York: Haworth Press.
This paper argues that the war on drugs is based on retributive values that are illogical, burden the criminal justice system, and are ineffective in reducing drug-related harm. It demonstrates that anti-drug policy has resulted in dramatically increased incarceration for blacks since 1970 and concludes that the war on drugs has become a punishment substitute for segregation.

Sterling, E. E. (2002, September 13). Drug Laws and Thought Crime. Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review: Drug Laws and Thought Crime.
Speech presented by CJPF President Eric E. Sterling at the Temple University Law School symposium on September 13, 2002.

Sterling, E. E. (1999, April 15). Racially Disproportionate Outcomes in Processing Drug Cases.
An 8-page report describing the disproportionate impact of drug prosecutions on African-Americans and other racial minorities. Reports the data on the increasing and gross racial disparity at every stage in the processing of drug cases – from arrest to incarceration.

Sterling, E. E. (1997, August 4). Disparity in Crack, Powder Cocaine Sentences. Chicago Tribune.
This op-ed describes how the grossly disproportionate prosecution of African-Americans in federal crack cocaine cases is a consequence of mismanagement by the U.S. Department of Justice of federal prosecutors who overwhelmingly pursue low-level crack cases. The article describes how the disparity is less the product of the well-known statutory 100-to-1 crack/powder cocaine sentencing triggers.

Civil Liberties

Sterling, E. E. (1997, Spring). Drug Policy: A Smorgasbord of Conundrums Spiced By Emotions Around Children and Violence. Valparaiso Law Review.
This excerpt is from a 49-page law review comment in a 500-page symposium volume, "Juvenile Crime: Policy Proposals on Guns, Violence, Drugs and Gangs," addresses the complexities of drug policy and how it is shaped by concerns about children and public safety. Discusses availability of illegal drugs, drug use by children, the "right" to use drugs, crack markets and violence, drug dealing by adolescents, the handicap of drug prohibition on urban redevelopment, and issues regarding medical marijuana. It responds to two articles, one by Daniel D. Polsby, and one by Mark A.R. Kleiman.

Sterling, E. E. (1997). Law Enforcement Against Entheogens: Is It Religious Persecution?. Entheogens and the Future of Religion.
Excerpted from a chapter in the book Entheogens and the Future of Religion. Edited by Robert Forte. San Francisco, CA: Council on Spiritual Practices (1997). An excerpt from the chapter by Eric E. Sterling discusses the history and nature of laws against the use of entheogens -- peyote, marijuana, and other plant materials used for spiritual purposes.

Sterling, E. E. (1990, September 14). The Bill of Rights: A Casualty of the War on Drugs?. Vital Speeches of the Day.
Delivered by Eric E. Sterling at the 92nd convention of the Colorado Bar Association, Aspen, Colorado. Puts forth the thesis that "the most tragic casualties of the 'war on drugs' are our constitutional liberties."