
Families of Prisoners Support Group
This community is dedicated to families that have been disrupted by prison. Having a loved one incarcerated or having been incarcerated comes with its own unique challenges that require support and understanding. Join the group to find others who know what you're going through, and to seek advice or share your experience.

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Does anyone that has a loved one that is facing a FEDERAL prison sentence know if there is ever a chance for parole? I have been told by some in the "legal profession" that federal prisoners have to serve 100% of their sentence. Of course I have been told so many things I don't know who to believe anymore. Please someone help, give me hope.
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Time served is a 100% but with good time taken off for good behavior it equals to 85%. Please keep in mind that certain circumstances may differ due to the fact of the situation. The Housse and the Senate both have bills on the table. They have been trying to get these same issues passed for some time now. I have posted this information in hopes that it helps. I believe if we all become involved maybe we can stop the mandatory miniums that the Federal Government is handing out.
This is what is out there
FedCURE:
Federal Parole and Re-entry Legislation for the 110th Congress
Federal Parole: On 20 April 2007 FedCURE met with the point person for Rep. Danny Davis of Illinois the main sponsor of last year's federal parole bill - H.R. 3072. FedCURE also spent about one half hour with Rep. Davis. We are working on the new parole bill, which will take a different focus. The main focus will be on significantly increased good time, which will affect about 70% of all inmates. The other focus will be United States Parole Commission (USPC) review. We do not want to go into details at this time because the bill is still in a state of flux. We should be ready for legislative counsel soon and we hope to see introduction before fall recess.
The Second Chance Act of 2007 - was introduced in the 110th Congress on 20 March 2007 as H.R. 1593. Just a week after the re-introduction of the bill, 28 March 2007, members of the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1593 out of committee. During the mark-up of the bill, members voted down several amendments that would have jeopardized the bipartisan support for the bill. Sen. Bidden introduced S. 1060, an identical bill, in the Senate on 29 March 2007. On 02 August 2007 the Senate Judiciary Committee passed out the Second Chance Act. Unanimously! Both bills now go to the full House and Senate for a floor vote. Once passed, President Bush must then sign The Second Chance Act into law.
For more information see below. For updates see: http://www.fedcure.org/information/Legislation.shtml.
FAMM:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 31, 2007
Contact: media@famm.org
Nov. 1 heralds new day for crack cocaine sentencing
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Effective November 1st, nearly 80 percent of defendants convicted of federal crack cocaine offenses will face sentences 16 months shorter on average, thanks to sentencing guideline reforms approved by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Since 1995, the U.S. Sentencing Commission has repeatedly advised Congress that there is no rational, scientific basis for the 100 to 1 ratio between crack and powder cocaine sentences. To ameliorate the unduly harsh penalties for crack, the Commission saw fit this year to amend the Sentencing Guidelines and reduce the base offense level for crack cocaine defendants sentenced after November 1, 2007.
"FAMM applauds the Commissions reform of the crack cocaine guidelines. It is a long overdue first step to improving crack sentences, and though it does not solve the problem of excessive crack cocaine penalties it moves us closer to that goal," said Julie Stewart, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the nations leading sentencing reform organization with 13,000 members, most of whom are prisoners or their families.
However, if the amendment is not made retroactive, nearly 20,000 federal prisoners currently serving harsh sentences for crack cocaine offenses will not be eligible for relief. Many FAMM members, including twins Lamont and Lawrence Garrison, would benefit if the changes were retroactive. Arrested just months after graduating from Howard University, Lamont received 19 years and Lawrence received 15 years in prison, after being accused of conspiring to distribute crack and powder cocaine. The brothers would see their sentences lowered by roughly four and three years, respectively, if the guideline change is made retroactive.
FAMM is spearheading the effort to make the crack cocaine guideline change retroactive and our members have generated thousands of letters to the Sentencing Commission in support of retroactivity, said Mary Price, general counsel and vice president of FAMM. The prisoners, children and families torn apart by these unjustifiably harsh penalties are watching closely and will welcome crack sentencing reforms that restore some justice in their loved ones cases.
While changes to the crack cocaine guideline are an important step forward, they do not provide defendants relief from congressionally imposed mandatory minimum sentences for crack offenses. Only Congress can change mandatory minimum laws, said Price. The time is ripe for reform, especially given the bipartisan support for crack sentencing reform that has emerged in recent years." Currently, there are three bills in the Senate and one in the House to adjust mandatory minimum crack sentences.
Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) is a national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes just sentencing policies. For more information, visit: www.famm.org.
More questions about the crack guideline change? Click here to read FAMM's questions and answers.
We are working on getting the crack cocaine amendment right now retroactivated. You can read more of all these incentatives at both the web sites. Hope this give you some insight. Again sorry so long.