Pubdate: Thu, 03 Feb 2005 Source: Journal Times, The (Racine, WI) Copyright: 2005 The Journal Times Contact: http://www.journaltimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1659 Author: John Chase Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/federal+sentencing (Federal Sentencing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n104/a09.html Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n175/a02.html LEFT BEHIND Both your editorial of Jan 18th and Steve Heath's letter of Jan 27th applaud the recent Supreme Court decision making federal sentencing guidelines advisory rather than mandatory. Henceforth sentences will be fairer and more consistent. But let's not forget those left behind. Our prisons hold tens of thousands of low-level felons on the receiving end of now-unconstitutional sentences, especially long because low-level felons usually had no information to trade for a "downward departure" from the guidelines' sentence range. The family-destroying impact on women has been especially serious. In total we have over 30,000 women in prison on drug charges, almost all nonviolent, mostly because they could not, or dared, not testify against their men. We should not continue to hold prisoners sentenced to a standard now ruled to be unconstitutional. Releasing these people is not only morally right; it is in our own interest to return these people - especially the women - to their families. John Chase Palm Harbor, Fla. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh