Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-drug-sentencing-rules-raise-questions-for-19000-inmates Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which sets guidelines for federal prison sentences, voted this week to make its recent reduction in sentences for crack cocaine offenses retroactive, making over 19,000 inmates eligible for sentence reductions. Legal experts examine the shift and the potential impact on the justice system. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. GWEN IFILL: Finally tonight, reducing sentences for crack cocaine offenders, and to Jeffrey Brown. JEFFREY BROWN: Twenty years ago, an increase in the use of crack cocaine led to fears of an epidemic of addiction and violence around the country. Congress responded with a law that set far higher sentences for possession of crack than for possession of powder cocaine, treating one gram of crack as equivalent to 100 grams of powder.The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which sets guidelines for federal prison sentences, decided that disparity was too great and, in November, voted to reduce sentences handed out for crack cocaine possession. Yesterday, the commission took a further step, making its new rules retroactive, making more than 19,000 present inmates eligible to petition the courts to reduce their sentences.