Is Meth the New Crack for Women in the War on Drugs? Factors Affecting Sentencing Outcomes for Women and Parallels Between Meth and Crack

Abstract

Between 1996 and 2006, the federal laws that pertain to methamphetamine changed significantly. By 2006, methamphetamine offenses ranked number two among drugs for which women were convicted. There was a major increase in the number of women convicted of methamphetamine offenses. Using U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) data for 1996 and 2006 , this research investigates the factors affecting sentencing outcomes among women convicted of methamphetamine in the federal system. A major finding is that mandatory minimum sentencing attached to the new thresholds for methamphetamine has a major affect on the likelihood of incarceration of women convicted of methamphetamine offenses in the federal system.