Thousands of drug offenders set for early freedom in the largest inmate release in US history
Prison terms of those convicted of drug-related offences would be cut by an average of 25 months
Thousands of federal inmates serving sentences for drug crimes are set for early release next month under a cost-cutting measure intended to reduce the US prison population.
Officials said the nationwide releases over four days starting October 30 will be the largest in US history. The more than 5,500 inmates set to go free are among the first of what could eventually be tens of thousands eligible for release. The US Sentencing Commission voted last year to retroactively apply substantially lower recommended sentences for those convicted of drug-related felonies.
The commission, an independent panel that sets federal sentencing policy, estimated the prison terms would be cut by an average of 25 months.
Under the programme, a judge reviews each prisoner’s case to decide if his or her release would jeopardize public safety. Most of those eligible for consideration have already served 10 years or more. Roughly one-third of those released will be deported because they are not US citizens. Most of the others will be sent to halfway houses or supervised home-release.
The Justice Department estimates that roughly 40,000 prisoners could benefit from the programme in the coming years.
The changes are part of a national bipartisan effort to rethink decades-long sentences for drug offenders, who are roughly half the federal prison population.