Big Changes Brewing for Federal Sentencing

BIG CHANGES BREWING FOR FEDERAL SENTENCING Current Federal Drug Sentencing Guidelines LEVEL 26 AND 32 GUIDELINES VARY BY TYPE AND WEIGHT OF DRUG EX: 1 KG OF HEROIN = 121-151 MONTH SENTENCE 22 - 25- Proposed Changes: All Drugs Minus 2 Points REDUCE TO LEVEL 24 AND 30 EX: 1 KG OF HEROIN = 97-121 MONTH SENTENCE EI GUIDELINES GUIDELINES STILL DEPEND ON DRUG TYPE AND WEIGHT 13 - 14 - 16 - 18 - 20 - 21 - COULD ALSO APPLY 2010 FAIR SENTENCING ACT REDUCTIONS RETROACTIVELY Why the Changes? 700% PRISON POPULATION INCREASE SINCE 1980 1980 50% OF INDIVIDUALS IN FEDERAL PRISON ARE CONVICTED OF DRUG CRIMES U.S. HAS 5% OF WORLD POPULATION AND 25% OF WORLD PRISON POPULATION $80 BILLION: CURRENT ANNUAL COST OF FEDERAL INCARCERATION O = 10 BILLION Potential Effects of New Sentencing Guidelines 6,550-PERSON REDUCTION IN PRISON POPULATION OVER 5 YEARS 11-MONTH AVERAGE SENTENCE REDUCTION 000 MORE SENTENCING DISCRETION FOR JUDGES Broad-Based Support for Changes ATTORNEY GENERAL TEXAS GOV. ERIC HOLDER RICK PERRY SENATOR RAND PAUL SENATOR RICHARD DURBIN INFOGRAPHIC PROVIDED BY: RION, RION & RION Rion, Rion & Rion WWW.RIONLAWDAYTON.COM Sources: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2014/March/14-ag-263.html http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2014/03/13/289817341/n ew-climate-for drug-sentencing-guidelines-expected-to-change http://www.justice.govidealdruginfo/ftp3.shtml