Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353
Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced the Criminal Consequences of Early Release Act, which would require the federal government to report on the recidivism rates of federal inmates released early from prison under sentencing reductions. The report would cover downward revisions to sentencing guidelines issued by the Sentencing Commission and any future reductions in mandatory minimum sentences passed by Congress.
"Currently we have very little access to these critical data," said Senator Cotton. "But the early release of federal prisonsers directly impacts the safety and security of the American people. Arkansans and all Americans deserve to know the level of crime they'll be bearing as a result of sentence reductions currently implemented and any future sentence reductions passed by Congress. "
Background:
The Sentencing Commission - an independent judicial agency charged with issuing uniform sentencing guidelines to federal judges - revised sentencing guidelines in 2007, 2010, and 2014. Those revisions rendered 46,000 inmates eligible for early release. The Senate is currently considering legislation that would impose further sentencing reductions. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act that was passed out of the Judiciary Committee would make thousands of drug traffickers and other violent felons eligible for early release.
