Equal Treatment Under the Law

Studies of Cuyahoga County show blacks are far more likely than whites to be charged with a felony for so-called ‘drug paraphernalia’ violations—that is, possession of a crack pipe or another implement found to test positive for drug residue. Allegations of a racial disparity in the treatment of such drug cases were reported last month by the Plain Dealer and were the subject of an earlier study done for the organization Citizens for a Safe and Fair Cleveland. These reports also documented that black defendants are were far less likely than whites to be placed in drug intervention programs in lieu of jail time. Meanwhile, in the suburbs these offenses are routinely treated as misdemeanors, rather than felonies. Join us for discussion Tuesday morning at 9:00 on the Sound of Ideas.