A federal sentencing commission is considering a decision that could lead to the release of 19,500 federal inmates nationwide.
The move is aimed at resolving what is being viewed as unfair federal cocaine laws and sentencing guidelines, which provide a much greater punishment for crack cocaine than for its powder counterpart, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
The commission has already adopted reduced penalties for new crack cases brought to court, effective Nov. 1.
The current debate is in regards to its plans to make those changes retroactive to inmates already serving time for crack convictions. If passed, it could trim an average of two years off their sentences.
Read the whole story at the Daily Press.
