The Dallas Morning News Releases Three-Part Series on Meth Laws and Punishment
The Dallas Morning News has released a three-part investigative series titled 'Meth: The Prison Pipeline', revealing significant disparities in methamphetamine sentencing across federal judicial districts. The investigation, conducted by reporter Kevin Krause and data journalist José Luis Adriano, analyzed over 670,000 crimes from the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Key findings show that meth sentences in the Northern District of Texas are notably severe, with a median sentence of 10 years compared to the national median of 6 years. First-time, non-violent offenders can face decades in prison without parole, costing taxpayers up to $1.4 billion annually. The investigation highlights that meth trafficking carries harsher punishments than fentanyl, despite causing fewer deaths and hospitalizations.
The Dallas Morning News ha pubblicato una serie investigativa in tre parti intitolata 'Meth: The Prison Pipeline', rivelando significative disparità nelle condanne per metanfetamina tra i vari distretti giudiziari federali. L'inchiesta, condotta dal reporter Kevin Krause e dal giornalista dei dati José Luis Adriano, ha analizzato oltre 670.000 reati provenienti dalla Commissione Federale per le Condanne degli Stati Uniti.
I risultati chiave mostrano che le condanne per metanfetamina nel Distretto Settentrionale del Texas sono particolarmente severe, con una pena mediana di 10 anni rispetto alla pena mediana nazionale di 6 anni. I trasgressori alla prima offense e non violenti possono affrontare decenni di prigione senza possibilità di libertà condizionale, costo per i contribuenti fino a 1,4 miliardi di dollari annui. L'inchiesta sottolinea che il traffico di metanfetamina comporta punizioni più severe rispetto al fentanyl, nonostante quest'ultimo provochi meno decessi e ricoveri.
The Dallas Morning News ha publicado una serie de investigaciones en tres partes titulada 'Meth: The Prison Pipeline', revelando disparidades significativas en las sentencias por metanfetamina en los distintos distritos judiciales federales. La investigación, realizada por el periodista Kevin Krause y el periodista de datos José Luis Adriano, analizó más de 670,000 delitos de la Comisión Federal de Sentencias de EE. UU.
Los hallazgos clave muestran que las sentencias por metanfetamina en el Distrito Norte de Texas son notablemente severas, con una sentencia mediana de 10 años en comparación con la mediana nacional de 6 años. Los delincuentes no violentos en su primera ofensa pueden enfrentar décadas de prisión sin posibilidad de libertad condicional, costando a los contribuyentes hasta 1.4 mil millones de dólares anuales. La investigación destaca que el tráfico de metanfetamina conlleva castigos más severos que el fentanyl, a pesar de que este último causa menos muertes y hospitalizaciones.
The Dallas Morning News는 'Meth: The Prison Pipeline'라는 제목의 3부작 조사 시리즈를 공개하여 연방 사법 구역 간 메탐페타민 처벌의 중대한 불균형을 드러냈습니다. 기자 Kevin Krause와 데이터 저널리스트 José Luis Adriano가 수행한 이 조사는 미국 형량 위원회의 670,000건 이상의 범죄를 분석했습니다.
주요 발견에 따르면 텍사스 북부 지구의 메탐페타민 판결은 특히 엄격하며, 중앙값이 10년으로 국가 중앙값 6년과 비교됩니다. 첫 범죄 비폭력 범죄자는 석방 없이 수십 년의 징역형에 직면할 수 있으며, 이는 납세자에게 연간 14억 달러에 달하는 비용이 발생합니다. 이 조사는 메탐페타민 밀매가 덜 치명적이고 입원도 적음에도 불구하고 펜타닐보다 더 엄한 처벌을 받는다는 점을 강조합니다.
The Dallas Morning News a publié une série d'enquêtes en trois parties intitulée 'Meth: The Prison Pipeline', révélant des disparités significatives dans les condamnations liées à la méthamphétamine à travers les différents districts judiciaires fédéraux. L'enquête, menée par le journaliste Kevin Krause et le journaliste de données José Luis Adriano, a analysé plus de 670 000 crimes de la Commission de la délinquance des États-Unis.
Les principales conclusions montrent que les condamnations pour méthamphétamine dans le District Nord du Texas sont particulièrement sévères, avec une condamnation médiane de 10 ans contre une médiane nationale de 6 ans. Les délinquants non violents en première infraction peuvent faire face à des décennies de prison sans possibilité de libération conditionnelle, coûtant aux contribuables jusqu'à 1,4 milliard de dollars par an. L’enquête souligne que le commerce de méthamphétamine est puni plus durement que le fentanyl, bien que ce dernier entraîne moins de décès et d'hospitalisations.
The Dallas Morning News hat eine drei-teilige investigative Serie mit dem Titel 'Meth: The Prison Pipeline' veröffentlicht, die bedeutende Unterschiede bei der Verurteilung von Methamphetamin in den verschiedenen Bundesgerichtsbezirken aufzeigt. Die Untersuchung, die von Reporter Kevin Krause und Datenjournalist José Luis Adriano durchgeführt wurde, analysierte über 670.000 Straftaten der US Sentencing Commission.
Wichtige Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Strafen für Meth im Northern District of Texas besonders schwer ausfallen, mit einem Median von 10 Jahren im Vergleich zum nationalen Median von 6 Jahren. Ersttäter ohne Gewalt können Jahrzehnte im Gefängnis ohne Bewährung verbringen, was die Steuerzahler bis zu 1,4 Milliarden Dollar jährlich kosten kann. Die Untersuchung hebt hervor, dass der Drogenhandel mit Meth schwerere Strafen mit sich bringt als Fentanyl, obwohl letzteres weniger Todesfälle und Krankenhausaufenthalte verursacht.
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“Meth: The Prison Pipeline” is the result of a years-long investigation that explores the shocking disparity of methamphetamine sentencing — and why it’s so prevalent in D-FW
DALLAS, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dallas Morning News has released its compelling three-part series: “Meth: The Prison Pipeline.”
As the nation grapples with the devastating opioid epidemic, few realize that the harshest punishments for drug trafficking are actually reserved for methamphetamine (meth) — a stimulant causing fewer deaths and hospitalizations than fentanyl, the deadly synthetic opioid at the center of the current crisis.
For the series, The News reporter Kevin Krause has engaged in a years-long investigation of hundreds of North Texas meth cases — including the review of thousands of pages of sentencing transcripts and attendance at numerous hearings in Dallas and Fort Worth. Data journalist José Luis Adriano has also downloaded and analyzed more than 670,000 crimes from the U.S. Sentencing Commission. What Krause and Adriano ultimately uncovered is that sentences for meth are much more severe than for deadlier drugs like fentanyl.
They also found that nowhere are meth sentences longer than right here in the federal court district that serves the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The median meth sentence in the Northern District of Texas, which includes Dallas, from October 2013 to September 2023 was slightly more than 10 years. The national median sentence during that time was six years. Meth sentences here are often stiffer than those imposed on violent criminals. First-time, non-violent offenders can be sentenced to decades in prison for selling meth — with no chance for parole — and it’s costing taxpayers as much as
“Meth: The Prison Pipeline” exposes these growing sentencing disparities among federal judicial districts and the impact of unreformed meth laws — originally established as a consequence of 1980s and ‘90s tough-on-crime policies.
This series builds on The News' rich legacy of delivering impactful and relevant journalism. It will be available online from December 3-5 and in print from December 8-10. Readers can access the full series anytime at dallasnews.com/methpipeline.
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DallasNews Corporation is the Dallas-based holding company of The Dallas Morning News and Medium Giant. The Dallas Morning News is Texas’ leading daily newspaper with an excellent journalistic reputation, intense regional focus and close community ties. With offices in Dallas and Tulsa, Medium Giant is an integrated creative marketing agency with a leading roster of world-class brands and companies. Medium Giant is a wholly owned business of DallasNews Corporation. For additional information, visit mediumgiant.co.
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