« CT: Prisons In Crisis Mode. Some Want To Open 504-Bed Wing In Cheshire | Main | In New York, a fight brews between renewable energy and jails »
February 06, 2008
Mukasey to urge Congress to stop release of inmates convicted on crack cocaine charges
Mukasey to urge Congress to stop release of inmates convicted on crack cocaine charges
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/
February 6th, 2008
Mukasey to urge Congress to stop release of inmates convicted on crack cocaine charges
WASHINGTON (CNN) ‹ Attorney General Michael Mukasey plans to ask Congress to urgently pass a law to restrict the number of potentially violent federal prisoners who may be released as early as next month because of reduced sentences for crack cocaine-related convictions.
Justice Department officials Wednesday said that when Mukasey appears before a House Committee Thursday he will urge lawmakers to ensure that only non-violent, first-time offenders would be considered for release under guidelines set by the U.S. Sentencing Commission two months ago.
By acknowledging that a small category of inmates should be considered for release, the proposal appears to represent a grudging partial compromise plan from a Justice Department that has been staunchly opposed to cocaine sentencing guidelines that pave the way for any early releases.
Posted by lois at February 6, 2008 11:08 PM