News & Media - FAMM

News & Media

Since forming in 1991, FAMM has developed a team of attorneys, advocates and researchers with extensive expertise in crafting and advancing state and federal legislative reforms; working with the U.S. Sentencing Commission; improving the executive clemency process; and navigating the complex traits of federal sentencing policy. We’ve also put together a large collection of deeply researched case profiles highlighting FAMM members who have been subjected to onerous prison sentences. FAMM staffers are available to answer questions regarding the politics and policy of sentencing reform, and our research team is available to walk journalists through prisoners’ cases.

Have a question, or need to reach out to one of FAMM’s expert staff members? Our media relations team is happy to help!

For FAMM’s work at the federal level, contact Tripp Laino at 202-999-4273.

For FAMM’s work at the state level, contact TJohn Norton at 202-999-4268.

If you have a general question for FAMM and are not a member of the media, contact Debi Campbell at 202-621-5041.

New to the Issues?

We encourage journalists who have never covered sentencing before—and any veterans looking to brush up—to check out our Sentencing 101 page. If you’d like to write about someone who’s serving an unjust sentence, you can check out our profiles page. To see what FAMM is doing to change sentencing policy at the state and federal levels, you can find our work here. To learn about current sentencing reform legislation in Congress, visit our U.S. Congress page.

Ready to become an expert in federal sentencing? Visit our briefing book on mandatory minimum sentences for congressional staff.

In addition to work for reform at the federal level, FAMM is currently working in the following four states. Click the state to learn about FAMM’s efforts there.

 

Recent Press Releases:

BREAKING: Sentencing Commission Grants Full Retroactivity for Amendment 3

Friday, July 18, 2014

Sentencing Commission Grants Full Retroactivity Will allow 46,290 people to petition for reduced sentences  MEDIA CONTACTMike Riggs, FAMM Communications DirectorO: (202) 822-6706C: (407) 962-7043  Washington, D.C. – The United States Sentencing Commission cast a historic vote today to allow 46,290 federal drug prisoners to petition for sentence reductions. This is the largest number of federal drug … Read More

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PRESS ADVISORY: Fate of 51,000 Federal Drug Prisoners to Be Decided Friday

Thursday, July 17, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT:Mike Riggs, Communications Director202-822-6706mriggs@famm.org Washington, D.C. — On July 18, the U.S. Sentencing Commission will vote on whether to allow 51,000 federal drug prisoners to petition for early release from prison. An affirmative vote would allow nearly half the Bureau of Prison’s drug offender population to seek sentence reductions averaging 23 months. The Commission’s … Read More

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Calling all Lawyers: Registration is now open for Clemency Project 2014 attorney training

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Registration is now open for attorneys who would like the training necessary to participate in Clemency Project 2014. The training webinar takes place July 15 and 16, and interested attorneys must participate both days in order to file petitions through the Clemency Project.  This training is free. Follow the instructions after clicking on this link. Interested attorneys who don’t … Read More

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FAMM Applauds Governor Scott Signing Threatened Use of Force Act

Friday, June 20, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Newburn, (202) 822-6700, gnewburn@famm.orgFAMM MEMBER CONTACT: Andrea Strong, (202) 822-6700, famm@famm.org FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) today applauds Florida Gov. Rick Scott for signing HB 89, the “Threatened Use of Force Act.” This bill provides immunity for the threatened use of force in situations where the actual use of force is already justified under … Read More

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House Over-Criminalization Task Force Hosts Debate on Mandatory Minimum Sentences and Reforms

Friday, May 30, 2014

Media Contact Mike Riggs, mriggs@famm.org or (202) 822-6700 for more information Today the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Over-Criminalization Task Force held a hearing to discuss penalties and punishments. The panelists represented a wide range of views and conducted a sometimes heated debate on mandatory minimum sentences and the need to reform them, particularly for low-level, … Read More

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FAMM Announces Fit the Crime Project: Effort Encourages Reform of Economic Crime Sentencing

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

WASHINGTON – In an effort to highlight the need to rebalance criminal sentencing for economic crimes such as fraud, insider trading and other white collar offenses, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) today launched the Fit the Crime Project. This project will raise awareness about the dramatic shortcomings of the current sentencing guidelines for economic crimes that … Read More

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