NCJ Number
230695
Journal
Criminal Justice Review Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 67-89
Date Published
March 2010
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study explored both the extent to which media portrayals depict cocaine offenders as threatening or dangerous and the extent to which these accounts differ across crack and powder cocaine incidents. It examined disparities in Federal sentencing statistics of crack and powder cocaine and explored media portrayal potential to influence judicial sentencing decisions.
Abstract
Federal narcotics sentencing policy, most notably for cocaine, has been criticized in regard to its excessive severity and racially disparate outcomes. Crack cocaine was heavily portrayed in the media during the 1980s as a dire social threat directly worsening the crime rate, a threat taken seriously as indicated by greater legislative enactment of mandatory minimums specifically targeting narcotics offenses. The research here uses a theoretical-mixed methodological symmetry (focal concerns perspectivecontent/regression analysis) to explore media portrayal of, and case outcomes for, crack versus powder cocaine offenders. Media portrayals of powder and crack cocaine offenders are considered through examination of USA "today" articles. These media portrayals are compared with official outcomes through a temporally corresponding regression analysis of Federal crack and powder cocaine offenders from Federal district court. Findings inform discussion of policy implications and invite scrutiny of media construction of crime problems. Tables, notes, and references (Published Abstract)