SENTENCING COMMISSION VOTES TO MAKE IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS RETROACTIVE TO REDUCE THE SENTENCES OF THOUSANDS

Zero point offender

On August 24, 2023, a divided Commission voted 4-3 to make two new amendments to the Guidelines retroactive.  Assuming no Congressional action to the contrary, these amendments go into effect on November 1, 2023.  The first amendment limits the overall criminal history impact of “status points” (i.e., the additional criminal history points given to defendants for

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U.S. Sentencing Commission Publishes New Report on Drug Mandatory Minimums

mandatory minimum, sentencing, commission

Earlier today, the U.S. Sentencing Commission published an updated report on mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenders.  The comprehensive report surveys recent sentencing trends for drug offenders subject to mandatory minimum penalties, as well as the impact such penalties have had on the Bureau of Prisons’ inmate population.  Among the key findings was the impact

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