Crack-ing the Media Myth: Reconsidering Sentencing Severity for Cocaine Offenders by Drug Type

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 perspective—content/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.