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Compassionate Release

inmate with walker | Jan Woitas/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom

8th Amendment

Federal Inmates Suffering From Unconstitutional Medical Neglect Could Get Relief Under Rule Change

The U.S. Sentencing Commission might make medical neglect a qualifying condition for compassionate release.

C.J. Ciaramella | 1.23.2023 12:43 PM

Ketanji-Brown-Jackson-3-22-22-b-Newscom | Jeff Malet Photography/Newscom

Supreme Court

Did Ketanji Brown Jackson Flout the Law When She Reduced a Drug Dealer's Sentence?

The Supreme Court nominee's critics say she clearly did, but several federal appeals courts disagree.

Jacob Sullum | 4.4.2022 4:30 PM

Ft Leavenworth Prison | Bill Davis/Flickr

Sentencing

Compassionate Releases of Federal Prisoners Surged During the Pandemic

The record number of reduced sentences still represented a tiny share of the federal prison population.

Jacob Sullum | 3.11.2022 3:15 PM

inmate with walker | Jan Woitas/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom

War on Drugs

Federal Prosecutors Argue COVID-19 Is Just 'One More Way to Perish in Prison'

Atilano Dominguez was serving a life sentence for marijuana offenses, and federal prosecutors tried to ensure he died behind bars.

C.J. Ciaramella | 9.25.2020 3:49 PM

prisonrelease_1161x653 | Conchasdiver / Dreamstime.com

FIRST STEP Act

Thousands Freed from Federal Prison by FIRST STEP Act Reforms

Many benefit from an increase in "good time" credits and from retroactive reductions in crack cocaine mandatory minimum sentences.

Scott Shackford | 7.19.2019 2:10 PM

Large image on homepages | Ron Levine

Civil Liberties

Grandparents in the Gulag

C.J. Ciaramella | 9.16.2018 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages | CJT / MEGA / Newscom

Compassionate Release

81 Federal Prisoners Have Died While Waiting for the Government to Decide If They Were Sick Enough to Go Home

The Justice Department has finally shared data from the "compassionate release" program, and the numbers aren't pretty.

Mike Riggs | 2.13.2018 11:30 AM

Large image on homepages | Families Against Mandatory Minimums

Drug Policy

Pressure Builds on Bureau of Prisons to Release Elderly and Sick Inmates

Religious institutions and conservative groups join criminal justice reformers in calling on BOP to reform compassionate release.

Mike Riggs | 12.8.2017 4:15 PM

Large image on homepages | Aekkarak Thongjiew/Dreamstime

Civil Liberties

When Prisons Become Nursing Homes

The case for compassion

Mike Riggs | 10.22.2017 6:00 AM

Large image on homepages

War on Drugs

Congress Wants to Know Why the BOP Won't Let Elderly Prisoners Go Home to Die

"Compassionate release" is an excellent tool that the BOP refuses to use.

Mike Riggs | 7.28.2017 3:00 PM

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