Follow the rules you'll have mad bread to break up not 15 19 years on the wakeup

pO157.

Posted to Legal on Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 05:18:10 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

After a monumental Supreme Court decision regarding sentencing disparity in Cocaine vs. Crack sentencing in December, the first inmates walked out of prison free men on Monday.

Sixteen prisoners were expected to get out on Monday, the first to be released after a wave of applications for sentence reductions were filed. While the new sentencing guidelines officially went into effect today, some prisoners were able to seek an early release or a reduction in sentence due to a provision in the Supreme Court decision allowing for retroactive application with court permission.

The disparity between sentences for crack cocaine and cocaine has been an issue for civil rights groups for years. Many groups claim the old sentencing guidelines were racially biased against African-Americans. Until recently, those caught possessing crack were subject to much harsher penalties than those with coke or other drugs. As many as 1,600 prisoners will be eligible for immediate release, as long as their sentencing courts approve. About 20,000 will be allowed to shave time off their sentences and get out early over the next 30 years.

The Attorney General spoke out against the retroactive reductions, claiming (among other things) that those to be released were hardened criminals. He claimed over 80% had a past criminal record, and most were violent thugs. Mr. Mukasey reiterated that it is the position of the Justice department that early release of these violent criminals puts society at risk.