Pubdate: Mon, 12 Oct 2015
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52

DRUG INMATES WITH LONG CRIME RECORDS AMONG THOSE FREED EARLY

WASHINGTON (AP) - A push to overhaul criminal sentencing is prompting 
the early release of thousands of federal drug prisoners, including 
some whom prosecutors once described as threats to society, according 
to a review of court records.

About 6,000 inmates are due to be freed from custody in the coming 
month, the result of changes made last year to guidelines that 
provide judges with recommended sentences for specific crimes.

Federal officials say roughly 40,000 inmates could be eligible for 
reduced sentences.

Many of them are small-time drug dealers targeted by an approach to 
drug enforcement now condemned by many as overly harsh and expensive. 
But an analysis of nearly 100 court cases also identified defendants 
who carried semiautomatic weapons, had past convictions for robbery 
and other crimes, moved cocaine shipments across states, and 
participated in international heroin smuggling.

The broad spectrum of defendants granted early release underscores 
the complex decisions confronting the government.

"I'm a law-and-order girl, and I believe that you need to send 
dangerous people to prison for a very long time," said Deputy 
Attorney General Sally Yates. "But I think that we need to be smart 
about deciding who are those dangerous people."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom