Reduced Sentences for Federal Drug Offenders

By Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma

At last, some good news for the thousands of people in federal prison for drug crimes who are ready to get on with their lives. The United States Sentencing Commission today voted to make the two-level reduction for narcotics offenses retroactive — in other words, people who have already been sentenced for drug crimes can go back to their sentencing judges and ask them to reduce their sentences. For many, the two-level reduction could cut their total prison time by about twenty percent. The commission’s vote was unanimous and the change will go into effect on November 1, 2014 unless Congress acts to disapprove it. To see how the new rules might affect you or someone you love, please contact our office at (212) 685-0999.