Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed the first major reconsideration of federal mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws since the Nixon Administration. The Committee voted, 13-5, in support of S. 1410, the Smarter Sentencing Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). The Smarter Sentencing Act: … Read More
Read MoreWashington, DC – Today, U.S. Department of Justice Deputy Attorney General James Cole, in prepared remarks to the New York State Bar Association, asked lawyers and prison officials to assist federal prisoners serving lengthy sentences for low-level, nonviolent drug offenses with requesting commutations (sentence reductions) from President Barack Obama. In particular, Cole emphasized the administration’s … Read More
Read MoreIt’s unanimous: U.S. Supreme Court overturns federal conviction and the 20-year mandatory minimum that went with it. Federal law calls for harsh mandatory minimum sentences for distributing drugs. These five- and ten-year sentences are imposed when a person is convicted of selling specific drug quantities. In some case, federal law requires courts to dramatically enhance … Read More
Read More(Washington, DC) — On January 16, the U.S. Senate passed a new federal budget (H.R. 3547), which includes one million dollars of funding for the formation of the bipartisan, independent, nine-member Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections. President Obama is expected to sign the budget into law on Saturday. The Task Force was championed … Read More
Read MoreOn January 9, the U.S. Sentencing Commission held a public meeting and voted to publish proposed changes (“amendments”) to the federal sentencing guidelines, which are used in all federal criminal cases. One of the proposed amendments would reduce the sentencing guidelines for federal drug trafficking offenses by two base offense levels, for all types of … Read More
Read More(WASHINGTON, D.C.) –FAMM founder and president Julie Stewart today welcomed the announcement that President Barack Obama has granted commutations (sentence reductions) to eight people, including FAMM members Stephanie George, Clarence Aaron, Ezell Gilbert, and Reynolds Wintersmith. FAMM has been a vocal advocate for reform of the Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA) and for greater … Read More
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, FAMM founder and president Julie Stewart issued the following statement calling on President Barack Obama to grant more commutations (sentence reductions) to federal prisoners, rather than merely issuing another the annual presidential pardons to Thanksgiving turkeys: “This administration has taken a bold stand against excessive mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenders, … Read More
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. — FAMM general counsel, Mary Price, said a new nonpartisan report published today shows that modest mandatory minimum sentencing law reform could save billions of taxpayer dollars, funding which would be better spent on federal programs and personnel that target violent crime. The report, published by the Urban Institute, provides conservative estimates of … Read More
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. — FAMM president Julie Stewart today hailed the introduction of yet another bipartisan sentencing reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Raul Labrador (R-ID) and Bobby Scott (D-VA). The bill, H.R. 3382, the Smarter Sentencing Act, shows that fixing federal mandatory minimum sentencing laws is growing in importance for both … Read More
Read MoreGAINESVILLE, FLA. – FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) Florida Project Director Greg Newburn today applauded a bill aimed in part at correcting the unintended consequences of Florida’s “10-20-Life” gun sentencing law. HB 89, filed by Representative Neil Combee (R, Polk City), is designed to restore the rights of Floridians to protect the “Defense of Life, … Read More
Read More