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MA: Shift in crack sentencing rules begins to free prisoners

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

US shift may free up to 30 inmates Judges here trim prison time for crack convictions By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff | February 21, 2008 Federal judges in Massachusetts have begun ordering the release of prisoners convicted of crack cocaine offenses, responding to a government decision to retroactively reduce the harsh penalties for using and selling that particular form of the drug. Up to 30 could be affected. Since Feb. 6, judges have reduced by 15 to 33 months the sentences of at least three Massachusetts inmates imprisoned for crack offenses. As a result, two who have already exceeded the shortened sentences will be freed March 3, the first day prisoners are eligible for lightened punishments for crack-related crimes. A third is expected to be released in June...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on February 21, 2008 (boomark / email).