Lots of news and new data from the US Sentencing Commission
While there seems to be lots of uncertainty in lots of federal executive agencies these days (including at the federal Bureau of Prisons as noted here and here), the one federal agency located in the judicial branch, the US Sentencing Commission, is continuing to do lots of terrific and exciting work on lots of fronts. Via email, I received word of these four notable new events or reports completed or in the works:
The Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13 tentatively beginning at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on both days. The Commission will livestream and record this event. At the hearing, Commissioners will receive testimony from invited witnesses on proposed amendments relating to supervised release and drug offenses.
New Data Reports: RETROACTIVITY
The Commission continues to track motions for a reduced sentence under retroactive application of the 2023 Criminal History Amendment (i.e., Amendment 821 effective November 1, 2023).
New Data Reports: COMPASSIONATE RELEASE
The latest Compassionate Release Data Report provides a preliminary analysis of the compassionate release motions filed with the courts and decided through the first quarter of fiscal year 2025.
New Research Report
The Commission will soon release a new study of Overdoses in Federal Drug Trafficking Crimes. The report covers a five-year period and examines the prevalence and outcomes of overdoses in drug trafficking cases as well as the drug types involved, the victims’ awareness of the drugs they were taking, the conduct of the individuals who were sentenced, and the sentences imposed by the courts