Federal Sentencing Bills

Bills in Congress - 2009

Federal sentencing bills that FAMM is following are below.

 

H.R. 1466, the Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act of 2009
On March 12, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 1466, the “Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act of 2009.’’  The bill would eliminate all mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses; curb federal prosecutions of low-level drug offenders; and allow courts to place offenders on probation or suspend their sentence.

 

In a speech to Congress, Rep. Waters cited “Correcting Course: Lessons from the 1970 Repeal of Mandatory Minimums,” FAMM’s 2008 report on how Congress first enacted mandatory drug sentences in the 1950s, then repealed them 20 years later because they failed to reduce drug trafficking. 

 

• To read Rep. Waters’ floor statement, follow this link. (pdf file)
• Click here to read the bill summary, see cosponsors and get other information on this bill.

 

H.R. 1459, the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009 
On March 12, Congressman Robert "Bobby" C. Scott (D-Va.), introduced H.R. 1459, the "Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009." The bill would eliminate the distinction between powder cocaine and crack cocaine; eliminate all mandatory minimum sentences for cocaine, and establish the possibility of probationary sentences for cocaine offenders.

 

• Click here to read the bill summary, see cosponsors and get other information on this bill.

 

H.R. 1475, the Federal Prison Work Incentive Act of 2009
On March 12, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) introduced H.R. 1475, the “Federal Prison Work Incentive Act of 2008,” a bill that would substantially revive the good time system that existed before November 1, 1987.

 

As defined in H.R. 1475, good time is the amount of time a prisoner, whose record of conduct shows substantial observance of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) regulations is eligible to have deducted from the term of his sentence. The amount varies depending on, among other things, the length of the prisoner’s sentence.

 

Congressman Davis’s proposal would increase earned good time, restore industrial good time (providing for additional opportunities to reduce one’s sentence by engaging in work opportunities), allow forfeiture of all good time credit in the event of infractions in prison, and provide for potential restoration of forfeited good time credit.

 

Although H.R. 1475 technically would apply to all prisoners sentenced on or after November 1, 1987, it would not be retroactive. It would not recalculate good time already earned under the current system. 

 

• Click here to read the bill summary, see cosponsors and get other information on this bill.