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:

DOJ Validates FAMM Report on Compassionate Release

Monday, May 6, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Our unwavering effort to put compassion back in the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) compassionate release program is gaining steam. Last November, we worked with Human Rights Watch (HRW) to expose the failure of the BOP to administer the compassionate release program as Congress intended. Our investigative report, The Answer is No: Too Little … Read More

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FAMM Urges Bipartisan Overcriminalization Group to Recommend Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Reforms

Monday, May 6, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – FAMM President Julie Stewart today applauded the creation of an Overcriminalization Working Group by the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Overcriminalization Working Group was created by Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) and comprises five Republicans and five Democrats. The Working Group will address overcriminalization in … Read More

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Mismanagement of BOP Compassionate Release Program

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Inspector General Report Details Dramatic Mismanagement in Federal Prison Compassionate Release Program; Findings Confirm Human Rights Watch-FAMM Criticisms of BOP Program. After conducting a comprehensive review of the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) compassionate release program, the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has concluded that the BOP “does not properly manage” … Read More

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Prove It: FAMM President Reacts to Anti-Drug Plan

Friday, April 26, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the Obama administration’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released a new plan to combat illegal drug use in America. The ONDCP described its proposal as a “science-driven plan” based on “evidence-based reforms that treat our Nation’s drug problem as a public health issue, not just a criminal justice … Read More

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Injustice Ends Here!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I have great news to share with you. Today, U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013, H.R. 1695, in the U.S. House of Representatives. In March, U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced an identical version of the Justice Safety Valve Act, … Read More

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FAMM Commends Sen. Paul for Urging Repeal of Mandatory Minimums Laws

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC — FAMM President Julie Stewart commended U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) after he called for eliminating federal mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Senator Paul’s comments came during a speech he made to students at Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, DC. Last month, Senator Paul and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the … Read More

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