What is the new criminal justice reform called the First Step Act?
Some things to know:
- Why is reform necessary? The U.S. has more people in prison than any other country in the world.
- Will this new law significantly reduce prison populations? No.
Facts:
The criminal justice reform includes:
- It is a bill that received bipartisan support.
- It only affects federal inmates (but Florida is working on one too – more later).
- The law makes a 2010 law retroactive – about 2600 prisoners will receive reduced sentences based on the elimination of crack/powder cocaine punishment disparity.
- Inmates receive greater “gain time.”
- Judges have more flexibility to sentence around “mandatory minimum sentences.”
- Through rehab, inmates can be released sooner to halfway houses and home detention.
For more information, contact us today at (239) 309-2006.