Sentencing Commission Votes This Week!

On Thursday, June 30, the U.S. Sentencing Commission is expected to vote on whether this year's sentence-shortening changes to crack cocaine sentencing guidelines should be made retroactive. If made retroactive, up to 12,000 prisoners could benefit from the changes, which were created after Congress reduced the unfair and racially discriminatory 100-to-1 crack-powder ratio last year, in the Fair Sentencing Act.

FAMM supports full and unlimited retroactivity.  Crack sentences have always been unfair and have always undermined public trust in the justice system.  Now that those sentences are fairer, everyone should get the benefit.  Justice and fairness shouldn't depend on something as arbitrary as the date you committed your crime.  Additionally, giving sentence reductions to up to 12,000 people could save the federal government millions of taxpayer dollars and help ease overcrowding in federal prisons.

If you plan to attend the Commission's vote on Thursday, here are the details:

Location:
Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building
Ground floor
One Columbus Circle, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002

Time:
1:00 p.m. (although you should be there by 12:30 p.m. to ensure entrance)

If you plan to come to D.C. from out of town, please let FAMM know by contacting Courtney in our office at intern1@famm.org. While you are here we will be happy to help you set up appointments with your representative and senators.