Press Release

FAMM releases comment following Sentencing Commission vote

For Media Inquiries:
Tripp Laino, 202-999-4273
tlaino@famm.org

FAMM releases comment following Sentencing Commission vote

WASHINGTON – FAMM President Kevin Ring released the following statement following today’s US Sentencing Commission vote on sentencing guideline amendments.

“Compassionate release exists so that courts can review sentences when extraordinary and compelling circumstances arise,” Ring said. “Today, the Commission rightly recognized that people who are sexually abused by correctional officers and, in limited cases, some people serving excessive sentences they would no longer receive today, might qualify for release.

“The Commission also acknowledged that there will be situations, like COVID-19, that we cannot foresee today, and so they wisely reserved discretion for judges to act to protect lives and public safety. We had hoped the commission would have been bolder, but we think these compromises represent a big step in the right direction.”

FAMM has repeatedly advocated for victims of assault, including calling for the DOJ to facilitate the release of the women assaulted at FCI Dublin.

For more than three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a more fair and effective justice system. FAMM has led the fight to reform extreme mandatory sentencing laws and to promote rehabilitation and dignity for all people in prison, 94 percent of whom will return to our neighborhoods one day.

###

FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safely reduce incarceration, save taxpayer dollars, and keep families together. Founded in 1991, FAMM has secured bold sentencing and prison reform across the country while elevating the voices of directly impacted individuals and families.