GAINESVILLE, FL. — FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) Florida Project Director Greg Newburn today called on Florida lawmakers to prohibit the application of the state’s “10-20-Life” mandatory minimum gun sentence law in self-defense cases.  “A lot of attention has been paid to Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law and far too little to the state’s extreme, … Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — FAMM Vice President and General Counsel Mary Price today saluted the House Appropriations Committee for including language in its fiscal year (FY) 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations report that urges the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to make better use of its authority to grant compassionate release to more federal prisoners. FAMM has … Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — FAMM President Julie Stewart today saluted Oregonian legislative leaders for approving a bipartisan criminal justice bill that will improve public safety and save taxpayers $326 million over the next ten years. The state senate passed the measure yesterday. Governor John Kizhaber, who strongly supported sentencing and prison reform, is expected to sign … Read More

On July 2, FAMM President Julie Stewart saluted Oregonian legislative leaders for approving a bipartisan criminal justice bill that will improve public safety and save taxpayers $326 million over the next ten years. The state senate passed the measure yesterday. Governor John Kizhaber, who strongly supported sentencing and prison reform, is expected to sign the … Read More

FAMM President Julie Stewart sharply criticized provisions in an immigration reform bill that would create or expand mandatory minimum sentences. The bill, H.R. 2278, known as the Strengthen and Fortify Enhancement Act (or SAFE Act), was approved by the House Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 20 to 15 and now heads to the … Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 17, the U.S. Supreme Court shook up mandatory minimum sentencing, extending the protection of the Sixth Amendment’s right to trial by jury to all defendants facing enhanced mandatory minimum sentences.  In Alleyne v. United States, a 5-4 majority held that any fact that triggers any mandatory minimum sentence is an “element” of the … Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — FAMM President Julie Stewart released the following statement this morning as the new bipartisan Task Force on Overcriminalization in the U.S. House of Representatives kicked off its first hearing: “When I learned first learned that House Judiciary Committee leaders planned to create the new Overcriminalization Task Force, I was cautiously optimistic. I … Read More