Mukasey Wants To Block Crack Releases

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Attorney General Michael Mukasey wants Congress to act within weeks to prevent the release of thousands of violent criminals from federal prison under new crack cocaine sentencing rules.

In testimony prepared for a House hearing Thursday, Mukasey indicates a willingness to go along with new sentencing guidelines that reduce federal prison time for crack cocaine convicts - but only for first-time, nonviolent offenders.

New U.S. Sentencing Commission rules taking effect in less than a month would let nearly 20,000 federal inmates seek reductions in their crack cocaine sentences.

It's unclear, if not unlikely, that Congress would act before the rules take effect.

AP Story