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June 2, 2023
US Sentencing Commission releases a few updated "Quick Facts" and latest "compassionate release" data
The US Sentencing Commission has recently released some new sentencing data reports. Long-time readers have long heard me praise the USSC for producing insightful little data documents in the form of its "Quick Facts" publications (which are designed to "give readers basic facts about a single area of federal crime in an easy-to-read, two-page format"). The USSC recent posted these four new entries:
- NEW Offenders in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (May 2023)
- NEW Drug Trafficking (May 2023)
- NEW Fentanyl Trafficking (May 2023)
- NEW Fentanyl Analogue Trafficking (May 2023)
There are so many notable and interesting little data items in these little documents, and I hope to find time to mine a few data notes in the days ahead. In addition, the USSC's website promises "more updated Quick Facts coming soon."
In addition, the USSC also recently published this updated "Compassionate Release Data Report." This report, which has information covering from October 2019 through March 2023, includes new data on sentence reduction motions under section 3582(c)(1)(A) filed with the courts and decided during the first two quarters of fiscal year 2023. Not surprisingly, this data report shows continued month-over-month declines in the number of sentence reduction motions filed and granted since the heights of the COVID pandemic. And yet, the USSC data show that there are still more of these motions being filed and being granted in recent times than was being granted before the pandemic.
June 2, 2023 at 09:54 AM | Permalink
Comments
The amount of Fentanyl coming into America is terrifying, and it is getting mixed into many kinds of other drugs, including marijuana. People buying street drugs today don't really know hat they are getting, and frequently that includes Fentanyl, which kills so many. Here in Lexington, police arrested a man passed out behind the wheel of his car late at night at a red light. When the light turned green, he didn't move, so the police car behind him activated their blue lights. He was slumped unconscious over the steering wheel. Police had to break the rear driver's side window to get in the car. Fire department paramedics administered NARCAN, and he roused back to consciousness. The police found a folded piece of paper in his wallet, which contained Fentanyl powder. The prosecutors have offered him 1 year to serve for DUI and possession of Fentanyl.
Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jun 2, 2023 2:59:44 PM
Jim,
Do we think that one year or so in custody (sitting in a cell, and surrounded by similarly situated souls, playing cards all day, and reading books) is likely to "cure" this fellow from his addiction? I think the odds are against him. But he may be the exception. Your thoughts?
Posted by: SG | Jun 2, 2023 8:43:12 PM
I get the impression that now that most of the motions are not based on covid risk, courts are taking a really long time to decide them. This is based on ones I filed, and what I've heard from other attorneys (mostly in SDNY and EDNY.) I wonder if there is any data on how much time passes between the motion being filed and it being decided. It seems that the motions are often pending for a year or more, but that is based on very limited data.
Posted by: Kathy Manley | Jun 6, 2023 1:24:21 PM
