Sentencing Nerd Red Alert!

We bust out the red siren in honor of this piece of sentencing nerd news: the U.S. Sentencing Commission has posted its priorities for the upcoming year of sentencing reform action.

The first priority listed:  continuing to work with Congress to put in place recommendations from the Commission's last report on mandatory minimum sentences.

Other areas the Commission will focus on:

• How guideline sentencing has been working since the Booker decision
• Continued review of child pornography sentencing -- including a written report on the subject to Congress
• Continued review of the fraud guidelines
• Continued review of definitions of hotly-contested sentencing terms like "crime of violence," and
• A multi-year review of recidivism (!!!), including what increases or decreases it, how that information can help reduce prison populations and costs, and how that information might lead to guideline changes.

So, you ask, what does all this mean for prisoners and their loved ones? Well, this action doesn't reduce any sentences. All the Commission has done is define what it's going to focus on for the next year.  You can bet your guidelines manuals and sentencing statistic sourcebooks, though, that FAMM is going to be working closely with the Commission on these topics and keeping you updated along the way.

Many thanks to those who wrote to the Commission and gave it a piece of their sentencing nerd minds.  Keep checking our website for the latest on all things guidelines!