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Clemency Project 2014 Well Underway and Reviewing Thousands of Federal Inmate Applications

Friday, October 31, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: media@clemencyproject2014.org Washington, DC (Oct. 31, 2014) – Clemency Project 2014 is a working group composed of lawyers and advocates including the Federal Defenders, the American Civil Liberties Union, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the American Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as individuals active within those organizations. It launched … Read More

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FAMM issues final report on Massachusetts candidates’ positions on mandatory minimum drug sentences

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

86% of respondents favor repeal or reform  BOSTON – Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) has issued an updated report about candidates’ positions on Massachusetts’ drug sentencing laws. This version, prepared to educate voters ahead of the general election, details how the final slate of candidates for five major state races view mandatory minimum sentencing laws … Read More

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New Poll Finds 77% of Americans Support Eliminating Mandatory Minimums for Non-Violent Offenses

Thursday, October 9, 2014

A new Reason-Rupe Public Opinion Survey finds that 77 percent of Americans support eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses. That number is up from 71 percent in December 2013, the last time Reason-Rupe polled on the question. You can find the full survey results here (PDF); mandatory minimums are question 17.  “Almost three decades have … Read More

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AG Eric Holder: No More Super Mandatory Minimums to Punish Defendants Who Want a Trial

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Attorney General Eric Holder has issued a memo prohibiting prosecutors from using the threat of enhanced mandatory minimum sentences solely to force criminal defendants to plead guilty in drug trafficking cases. These super-sized mandatory minimums, called “section 851 enhancements,” allow prosecutors to ensure a defendant’s mandatory minimum sentence is doubled or even increased to life in … Read More

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New report from FAMM: Massachusetts candidates’ positions on mandatory minimum drug sentences

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Over 90% of respondents favor repeal or reform   Media contact: Barbara Dougan, (617) 543-0878 or Mike Riggs, (202) 621-6706 BOSTON – Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) is excited to release a collection of surveys detailing how 24 candidates for four offices view mandatory minimum drug laws in Massachusetts. FAMM asked candidates from every major race—including governor, … Read More

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Here Is FAMM’s Priority Letter to the U.S. Sentencing Commission

Friday, August 1, 2014

Last month, we encouraged FAMM members to tell the U.S. Sentencing Commission what its priorities should be next session.The Commission has published its own set of proposed priorities, which you can see here.   While the public comment period is now over, we thought we’d share with you what FAMM asked the Sentencing Commission to do. … Read More

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FAMM Applauds Attorney General Eric Holder for Challenging Necessity of Mandatory Minimums 

Friday, August 1, 2014

In speech to NACDL, Holder says arguments in favor of mandatory minimums are “inconsistent with the facts and with history” MEDIA CONTACTMike Riggs, mriggs@famm.org(202) 822-6706 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a historic speech delivered today at the annual meeting of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder dismissed the long-held idea … Read More

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Clemency Project 2014 (TM) Receives More than 20,000 Prisoner Surveys

Monday, July 28, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: media@clemencyproject2014.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Clemency Project 2014 is excited to announce that more than 20,000 federal prisoners have returned surveys seeking pro bono representation in the clemency process. Over the course of the next 30 days, the Project will begin to forward survey responses to trained lawyers who will help the Project assess whether … Read More

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Rep. Paul Ryan Makes Mandatory Minimum Reform Part of His Anti-Poverty Plan

Thursday, July 24, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT:Mike Riggsmriggs@famm.org202-822-6706 Washington, D.C. – Rep. Paul Ryan released an anti-poverty plan this morning, titled “Expanding Opportunity in America.” Chapter four of Ryan’s plan contains a multi-pronged proposal for criminal justice reform. Prong one: Reforming mandatory minimum sentences.   “Under current law,” Ryan writes, “a single gram of crack cocaine could be all that … Read More

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