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About 6,000 US inmates to be released early | About 6,000 US inmates to be released early |
(35 minutes later) | |
Roughly 6,000 federal inmates will be released in the coming weeks in an effort to ease prison crowding and lessen harsh penalties for non-violent offenders, US media report. | Roughly 6,000 federal inmates will be released in the coming weeks in an effort to ease prison crowding and lessen harsh penalties for non-violent offenders, US media report. |
The release is the biggest of its kind in US history, the Washington Post reported. | The release is the biggest of its kind in US history, the Washington Post reported. |
The inmates being released early were all convicted of drug-related charges. | The inmates being released early were all convicted of drug-related charges. |
An additional 8,500 inmates will be eligible for release starting in November. | An additional 8,500 inmates will be eligible for release starting in November. |
The US Sentencing Commission unanimously approved the reductions to the jail terms of inmates last year. | The US Sentencing Commission unanimously approved the reductions to the jail terms of inmates last year. |
Up to 46,000 of the nation's about 100,000 drug offenders could qualify for early release under the commission recommendations. | Up to 46,000 of the nation's about 100,000 drug offenders could qualify for early release under the commission recommendations. |
These 6,000 prisoners are the first wave of early releases. Most of the those released will see about two years trimmed from their original prison terms. | These 6,000 prisoners are the first wave of early releases. Most of the those released will see about two years trimmed from their original prison terms. |
"Even with the Sentencing Commission's reductions, drug offenders will have served substantial prison sentences," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told the Post. | "Even with the Sentencing Commission's reductions, drug offenders will have served substantial prison sentences," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told the Post. |
About one-third of the inmates up for release are foreign citizens. They will be quickly deported, officials said. | About one-third of the inmates up for release are foreign citizens. They will be quickly deported, officials said. |
President Barack Obama's administration has been working to tackle what he sees as a lack of fairness in the system. | President Barack Obama's administration has been working to tackle what he sees as a lack of fairness in the system. |
The planned releases continue a drive that started in 2013 when US Attorney General Eric Holder dropped mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. | The planned releases continue a drive that started in 2013 when US Attorney General Eric Holder dropped mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. |
Many leading Democrats and Republicans now believe that mandatory prison sentences that led to mass incarceration in the US have not been effective. | |
The US has almost a quarter of the world's prison population - one in every 99 Americans is behind bars. | The US has almost a quarter of the world's prison population - one in every 99 Americans is behind bars. |
"Far too many people have lost years of their lives to draconian sentencing laws born of the failed drug war," Jesselyn McCurdy, a senior legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union told the New York Times. "We are overjoyed that some of the people so wronged will get their freedom back." | "Far too many people have lost years of their lives to draconian sentencing laws born of the failed drug war," Jesselyn McCurdy, a senior legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union told the New York Times. "We are overjoyed that some of the people so wronged will get their freedom back." |
However, others are concerned that such a large prisoner release could lead to an uptick in crime in the US. | However, others are concerned that such a large prisoner release could lead to an uptick in crime in the US. |
Many US cities have seen homicide rates in increase over the past year and some law enforcement officials worry a surge of ex-convicts could exacerbate that trend. | Many US cities have seen homicide rates in increase over the past year and some law enforcement officials worry a surge of ex-convicts could exacerbate that trend. |
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