8.3.10 - FAMM applauds president for signing crack bill
President Barack Obama signed sweeping reforms to federal crack cocaine laws, reducing unduly harsh sentences for crack violations and repealing the five-year mandatory minimum for simple possession of crack cocaine - the first time a mandatory minimum drug sentence has been repealed since the Nixon Administration. Read more.
For detailed information about the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, read FAMM’s Frequently Asked Questions on the new legislation. You can find the FAQs and additional information about the new law on this page.
7.28.10 - House joins Senate in reducing crack disparity
The U.S. House of Representatives passed landmark legislation to reduce the sentencing disparity between federal crack and powder cocaine sentences and to repeal the five-year mandatory minimum for simple possession of crack on July 28. The infamous 100-to-1 sentencing ratio will be reduced to 18-to-1, meaning 28 grams of crack cocaine will trigger a five-year prison sentence and 280 grams of crack will trigger a 10-year sentence. Read more.
7.27.10 - FAMM celebrates House passage of Criminal Justice Commission bill
On July 27, the House passed H.R. 5143, the companion bill to Senator Jim Webb’s (D-Va.) bill, S.714. If enacted, the bills will create a bipartisan, blue-ribbon commission to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the entire criminal justice system and offer concrete recommendations for reform within 18 months. Says FAMM President Julie Stewart, “Today’s vote shows Congress is aware that our nation’s criminal justice system is in need of major repair…we applaud the House for taking this enormous step, and we look forward to seeing this bill through until it reaches the president’s desk before the 111th Congress adjourns.” Read more.
06.09.10 - Congressman Cohen introduces new expungement bill
On June 9,, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced H.R. 5492, the “Fresh Start Act of 2010.” The bill would provide for the expungement of certain criminal records in limited circumstances. Learn more about the proposed law here.
5.27.10 - FAMM challenges USSC to continue leadership on mandatory sentencing reform
On May 27, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which heard testimony from 17 experts, including DOJ and FAMM, on mandatory minimums. FAMM president Julie Stewart urged the Commission to lead the charge against mandatory minimum sentences and told the stories of several FAMM members. Thanks to the members who came from as far away as South Carolina to attend! Read Julie's testimony, FAMM's press release, our tweets from the hearing and testimony from other witnesses.
5.19.10 - Holder memo gives prosecutors more flexibility
Attorney General Holder sent a memo to federal prosecutors on May 19 that gave prosecutors more flexibility in making charging decisions and deciding on recommended sentences in criminal cases than they enjoyed under prior guidance.
4.27.10 - House Leaders Introduce Commission Bill
FAMM commends House leaders for introducing H.R. 5143, the House version of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act (Sen. Webb's bill). Says FAMM's Jennifer Seltzer Stitt, "the bill comes at a time when support for mandatory minimum sentencing reform is high. We are eager to see these issues explored by the independent, objective, and bipartisan Commission envisioned by this legislation.” Read statement.
3.23.10 - S. 1789 could save taxpayers $42 million in five years
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing S. 1789, the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), would lead to reduced spending for the federal prison system totaling $42 million over the 2011-2015 period, assuming a reduction in the future amounts appropriated to that agency. Enacting the bill could affect direct spending and revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply to the legislation, but CBO estimates that any such effects would not be significant. Download CBO estimate.
3.17.10 - Senate Passes Crack Cocaine Sentencing Reform Bill!
The United States Senate today approved by unanimous consent a bill that would reduce the sentencing disparity between federal crack and powder cocaine offenses. The bill, S. 1789, was sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). Read our press release and a special message from FAMM President Julie Stewart about what this bill means.
3.11.10 - Senate Judiciary Votes to Reform Federal Crack Cocaine Sentencing Policies; Eliminates first mandatory minimum since Nixon Administration
On March 11, 2010, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a bill that would reduce the sentencing disparity between federal crack and powder cocaine offenses. The bipartisan vote to approve an amended version of Senator Richard Durbin’s (D-Ill.) bill, S. 1789, would reduce the ratio between crack and powder cocaine from 100:1 to 20:1 and direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to enhance penalties for aggravating factors like violence or bribery of a law enforcement officer. Significantly, the bill also would eliminate the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack.
“This is an exciting vote, but also disappointing. We hoped the Committee would go further in making crack penalties the same as powder. There was no scientific basis for the 100:1 disparity between crack and powder cocaine created 24 years ago, and there is no scientific basis for today’s vote of 20:1 ,” said FAMM President Julie Stewart. “However, if this imperfect bill becomes law, it will provide some long-overdue relief to thousands of defendants sentenced each year." Read a copy of the bill, FAMM's press release, press releases from Sen. Leahy and Sen. Durbin and more information by clicking here.
3.09.10 - International Chiefs of Police, Sens. Webb, Hatch, Specter & Graham; Urge Senate Vote on National Criminal Justice Commission Act
Members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) from across the nation joined Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) and leading Judiciary Committee members, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Arlen Specter (D-PA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), to push for final passage of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, S. 714. The legislation, introduced by Senator Webb on March 26, 2009, was voted out of the Judiciary Committee January 19, and awaits a vote on the Senate floor. Read more
1.21.10 - Judiciary Passes Bill to Overhaul Criminal Justice System
On January 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that could result in an unprecedented overhaul of the nation’s criminal justice system. The National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 would create a blue-ribbon commission to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the entire criminal justice system and offer concrete recommendations for reform within 18 months. FAMM is working with Sen. Webb and members of Congress to ensure that the Commission conducts a thorough evaluation of sentencing policies, including mandatory minimums. Read statement
1.20. 2010 - Senate Judiciary Committee mark-up scheduled
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark-up, S. 714, National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 Thursday, January 21. A mark-up is when a committee discusses, potentially amends and either passes a bill out of committee and sends it to the full Senate for consideration and vote or rejects the bill.
Read news from D.C. (110th & 111th Congress, 2006-2009) archive