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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: sentencing guidelines

sentencing guidelines stories: 8 news summaries

(AP) - The Supreme Court says accidentally shooting a gun during the commission of a crime should bring the same penalties as intentionally using a firearm. The high court today upheld the conviction and sentence of Christopher Michael Dean, who was arrested for trying to rob a bank in Georgia in 2004.... More »

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John Roberts • Stephen Breyer • bank robbery • John Paul Stevens • sentencing guidelines • US Supreme Court • gun laws • accidental • automatic sentencing • Christopher Michael Dean

New York to Roll Back
Strict '70s Drug Laws

Gov., legislative leaders make deal to repel mandatory sentences

Mar 26, 09 5:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - New York's governor and legislative leaders have agreed to repeal some of the nation's most draconian drug laws, the New York Times reports. The move to dismantle strict mandatory sentencing guidelines set down in 1973 means judges will have the option of sending many first-time nonviolent drug offenders to treatment... More »

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drugs • law • New York • mandatory minimums • sentencing guidelines • David Paterson • New York state • Howard Stern Grid

First Inmates Freed in Crack Overhaul

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

Mar 5, 08 3:19 PM CST
(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... More »

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

Inmates Can Seek Early Release in
Crack Cases

Panel applies new guidelines retroactively

Dec 11, 07 5:15 PM CST
(Newser) - Nearly 20,000 inmates now in jail on crack cocaine offenses can seek to have their sentences reduced, a federal sentencing panel ruled today. The panel decided to apply retroactively more lenient sentencing guidelines for crack convictions that went into effect last month. The move will have the "most... More »

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crack cocaine • sentencing guidelines • US Supreme Court

Recent Cases Showcase New Judicial Leeway

Black, Vick decisions illustrate turn from sentencing guidelines

Dec 11, 07 4:19 PM CST
(Newser) - More federal judges are giving themselves wiggle room when it comes to once-strict sentencing guidelines, as evidenced by three recent high-profile court cases. The three—involving Conrad Black, Michael Vick, and a crack cocaine case that made it to the Supreme Court—illustrate how a spate of high-court rulings have... More »

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Michael Vick • cocaine • Conrad Black • judge • crack cocaine • sentencing guidelines • US Supreme Court

Supremes: Judges Can Shorten Crack Sentences

Court sides with
judicial discretion

Dec 10, 07 1:00 PM CST
(Newser) - The Supreme Court ruled today that federal judges can use discretion to order shorter prison sentences in crack cocaine crimes, to lessen a disparity with sentencing for powdered cocaine. It was a win for civil rights advocates, who have long argued that sentencing guidelines call for longer terms in crimes... More »

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cocaine • civil rights • crack cocaine • federal sentencing • sentencing guidelines • US Supreme Court

Sentence Cuts In Store for 19,500 Crack Convicts

Federal commission mulls rule change

Nov 12, 07 12:43 PM CST
(Newser) - The federal panel that sets sentencing guidelines for judges may decide as soon as tomorrow to cut at least 2 years off the sentences of 19,500 inmates convicted of using crack, the LA Times reports. New rules introduced this month equalize crack and powdered cocaine sentences, and tomorrow will... More »

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federal courts • cocaine • crack cocaine • federal sentencing • mandatory minimums • sentencing guidelines

New Standards Reduce Crack Cocaine Terms

Federal effort tries to bring parity to drug sentencing guidelines

Nov 2, 07 9:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - Crack cocaine offenders will receive shorter prison sentences under new federal guidelines, which replaced rules that treated a gram of crack like 100 grams of powder cocaine. The rules introduced yesterday reduce the average sentence to 8 years, 10 months, the Times reports, and may reflect an effort to restore... More »

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Congress • Department of Justice • cocaine • crack cocaine • federal sentencing • sentencing guidelines • drug sentence

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