Advocacy Group Defends Inmate’s Sentencing for Less Than an Ounce of Marijuana
An unfortunate case has sparked controversy in Bossier City, Louisiana, as a man named Kevin Allen finds himself serving a life sentence for possessing a mere 2 grams or 0.07 of an ounce of marijuana. The punishment seems exceedingly harsh, especially considering the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana in a majority of U.S. states.
An Unjust Sentence?
An advocate group by the name of The Last Prisoner Project is shedding light on Allen’s situation which they deem unfair and disproportionate. The nonprofit organization focuses on the identification and representation of individuals sentenced to significant jail time for marijuana-related offenses across America.
Kevin Allen was apprehended by the Bossier Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force in 2012 for selling $20 worth of marijuana to a confidential informant. Although initially sentenced to 10 years, his sentence was later enhanced to life imprisonment based on his status as a habitual offender.
Disproportionate Treatment
One of Last Prisoner Project’s advocates, Donte West, asserts that individuals serving time for marijuana offenses sometimes spend more time in prison than those convicted of murder. West’s own experience with the judicial system led him to fight for inmates like Allen. He was first sentenced to almost eight years for a pound of marijuana only for his conviction to be overturned after multiple appeals.
West believes that socioeconomic factors and location play an outsize role in the sentencing process for marijuana offenses. He stresses that those from less privileged backgrounds often have no choice but to accept a plea deal due to their inability to afford proper legal representation.
Hope for the Future
Despite Allen’s bleak situation, there is hope. An appeal resulted in the reduction of his life sentence to 35 years. As of April 2024, almost half of all U.S. states have legalized recreational marijuana, thus raising questions about the proportionality and fairness of Allen’s sentence.
West, alongside The Last Prisoner Project, continues to battle for Allen and several others who remain incarcerated due to lesser marijuana-related offenses. It’s their hope that state lawmakers will reassess their stance on marijuana and consider reviewing such harsh sentences.
While the journey to justice appears long and arduous, Allen’s case has intensified conversations about sentencing reform and the decriminalization of marijuana. It serves as a testament to advocacy groups like The Last Prisoner Project, underscoring their importance and impact in the fight for judicial fairness.
