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First Inmates Freed in Crack Overhaul

More than 3,000 eligible for release this year under new sentencing guidelines

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 5, 2008 3:19 PM CST
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(Newser) – Federal prisons are beginning to release prisoners to comply with new crack-cocaine sentencing guidelines, the Washington Post reports. The US Sentencing Commission made more than 3,000 inmates eligible for release this year by voting in December to even out punishments for crack-cocaine offenses against those involving powdered cocaine; crack sentences had been 100 times harsher, though the drugs are nearly the same.

The White House opposed making the new rules retroactive, saying it would bog down courts with applications for early releases and put violent offenders back on the streets—though statistics show about 90% of both cocaine and crack crimes were non-violent. Congressional panels refused Justice Department requests to overrule the commission's decision, which took effect Monday.

U.S. Sentencing Commission Chairman Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa speaks during a meeting at which commission members voted voted unanimously to allow some 19,500 federal prison inmates, most of them black, to seek reductions in their crack cocaine sentences in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. New guidelines went into...
U.S. Sentencing Commission Chairman Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa speaks during a meeting at which commission members voted voted unanimously to allow some 19,500 federal prison inmates, most of them black,...   (Associated Press)
Commissioner Dabney Friedrich, speaks during the U.S. Sentencing Commission meeting where commission members voted unanimously to allow some 19,500 federal prison inmates, most of them black, to seek reductions in their crack cocaine sentences in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007. Federal prisons began releasing inmates March 3, 2008....
Commissioner Dabney Friedrich, speaks during the U.S. Sentencing Commission meeting where commission members voted unanimously to allow some 19,500 federal prison inmates, most of them black, to seek...   (Associated Press)
One of three vice chairs, Chief Judge William K. Sessions III, listens during the U.S. Sentencing Commission meeting where commission members voted voted unanimously to allow some 19,500 federal prison inmates, most of them black, to seek reductions in their crack cocaine sentences in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11,...
One of three vice chairs, Chief Judge William K. Sessions III, listens during the U.S. Sentencing Commission meeting where commission members voted voted unanimously to allow some 19,500 federal prison...   (Associated Press)
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Local angles

Florida man arrives home from prison 14 months early
St. Petersburg Times

Hundreds in Virginia to benefit
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Writers opine on Bill Clinton's apology for not fixing sentencing disparities

Old sentencing rules 'shotgun instead of a rifle'
USA Today

Anthony Papa says it's not too late for Bill Clinton to do good
Huffington Post

 
drugs • cocaine • Michael Mukasey • crack cocaine • sentencing guidelines • US Sentencing Commission • prisons • jail overcrowding • drug sentence

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