3/3/08
Now is the time for crack offenders to talk to lawyers
On Monday March 3, the retroactive amendment to the crack guidelines went into effect across the country. Data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission shows that thousands of federal crack offenders could be eligible for sentence reductions.
If you have a loved one who committed a crack offense and have not yet talked to an attorney about how the amendment could impact their sentence, you or your loved one should do so. You should start by contacting your loved one’s trial or appellate attorney for help. If they can’t help you, you should contact the Office of the Federal Public Defender in the district where your loved one was convicted (click here for a complete list of public defender offices). If they cannot help, your loved one should try to file a motion for appointment of counsel with the court. There is still plenty of time to file a motion for a sentence reduction. If your loved one things they will be eligible for immediate release, they should contact an attorney as soon as possible.
SPECIAL NOTE: FAMM does not know the names of all of those who are eligible for immediate release. If you think your loved one is eligible for immediate release, or want to find out if they are, you should contact the Office of the Federal Public Defender in the district where your loved one was convicted. FAMM cannot give you this information.