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ACTION ALERT! FedCURE's Contact Congress Campaign: BARBER Amemdment Good Time Bill


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FedCURE:  Action Alerts 
_______
 
 
 
SECOND LOOK | The Sentencing Reform Act
 
_______

01 March 2015

~ Join the Comment Stream - Oppose S.1675. Reintroduced in 114th as the CORRECTIONS ACT ~

07 March 2014:  Legislation

OPPOSE ~ S.1675, Recidivism Reduction and Public Safety Act 2013 (Whitehouse, Portman)

Ordered Reported By Roll Call Vote, 15-2

Substitute Amendment ALB14155 (Whitehouse, Cornyn)

 
Cornyn-backed prison-reform bill clears Judiciary Committee:

Posted on March 7, 2014 | By William T. Brown
 
The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to advance a bill co-sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that aims to improve the efficiency and lower the population of the federal prison system.

Cornyn said Texas has been at the forefront of prison reform and by "reducing the number of prisoners in the justice system, we have been able to cut costs for the state, and improve the safety of our communities."

Cornyn said he hopes the Senate will vote to follow Texas’ lead with the federal system.

The Federal Prison Reform Act of 2013 calls for the formation and implementation of a system to evaluate the risks and needs of prisoners, enhancing recidivism reduction programs, lowering the probability of repeat offenders and an accumulation of time credits for qualifying prisoners which could lead to shorter sentences in federal facilities.

Prisoners who would be excluded from this program are: all sex offenders, terrorism offenders, violent offenders, repeat offenders, major organized crime offenders, and major fraud offenders.

Prisoners who have an acceptable risk level and accumulate enough time credits by participation in anti-recidivism programs and prison work programs could be released to a halfway house or home confinement once their time credits match the remaining days of their sentence.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D.-Vt.) chairman of the committee, said he backed the measure because "If we do nothing" "if we fail to address our burgeoning prison population" "we will be cutting the very programs that help keep us safe."

Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island , co-sponsor of the bill, said, "States like Rhode Island have shown that it is possible to cut prison costs while making the public safer." When inmates are better prepared to re-enter communities, they are less likely to commit crimes after they are released."

Cornyn said he hopes the bill, approved by the Judiciary Committee Thursday, will soon go to the full Senate for a vote.
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2014/03/cornyn-backed-prison-reform-bill-clears-judiciary-committee/

_______

14 February 2014

 

Reauthorization of SNAP and Other Nutrition Programs in the Next Farm Bill:

Issues for the 113th Congress

Randy Alison Aussenberg  |  Analyst in Nutrition Assistance Policy 

10 December 2013

Congressional Research Service  |  7-5700  |  www.crs.gov  |  R43332  |  54 Pages.

Excerpts related to SNAP eligibility and disqualifications:

 

113th Congress | Second Session | 09 September ~ 13 December 2013

~ c2a ~

 
FedCURE's Call-2-Action page:  http://www.fedcure.org/HR3012.shtml

Keep the conversation going ~ tweet: #Piss4Food

Dear Colleagues,

We encourage you to sign the attached letter to Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership urging them to reject the harmful Vitter amendment to the Farm Bill, which would deny food assistance to people convicted of certain offenses and their families.

In recent months, Senator Vitter has offered a series of amendments that would deny public benefits to convicted individuals.  In May, the Senate accepted his amendment 1056 to the Farm Bill, S.954, denying SNAP benefits for life to people convicted of certain offenses.  Many of you joined us in sending 
a letter to Senate leaders urging them to reject this harmful amendment.  (A month later, the House adopted a similar amendment, which has thus far failed.) 

The Vitter amendment is odious for a number of reasons.  It's counterproductive because it makes it harder for formerly incarcerated individuals to safely reenter society.  It's mean-spirited, as it reduces food benefits for children and families in the households of such individuals.  Because it's retroactive, the Vitter amendment would deny food assistance to elderly individuals who long ago completed their prison sentences.  Disparities in the criminal justice system mean African Americans and Latinos would be disproportionately affected.

We've calculated that of the 1.6 million people in state or federal prison, about one in six were convicted of the offenses targeted by this amendments.  Over time, the ban would apply to well over a million people.  

With a Farm Bill conference expected soon, we encourage you to help us send a letter to Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership urging them to reject the harmful Vitter amendment.  SignON Letter: 
http://www.fedcure.org/documents/OPPOSE-VitterSNAP-090913.doc
 
To sign on, please e-mail Jeremy Haile at jhaile@sentencingproject.org or Mark O'Brien at mobrien@lac.org with the name of your organization as you'd like it to appear.

 
tweet: #Piss4Food 
 
09 September 2013

FedCURE's Chairman, Mark A. Varca, J.D., concurs with the Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr., Vice President of Administration and National Executive Director of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.  To wit:

In my capacity as Vice President of Administration and National Executive Director of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc., I have the authority to act on this matter for the organization. We strongly oppose the Vitter Amendment and sign on to the proposed letter to the Conference Committee anticipated for the following cogent reasons:
 
1. Such an amendment undermines the goals and objectives of the Second Chance Act as to re-entry programs and enabling individuals to readjust and lead law abiding lives upon being release from jails and prisons.
 
2. It jeopardizes public safety and increases the risk of recidivism out of desperation and hunger by the persons who will be deprived of these benefits and thus add to the costs of law enforcement activities and further incarceration.
 
3. It would have devastating consequences on children living in the households of such individuals who will be deprived of need nourishment, and visits the "sins" of the parents on the children, leaving them mal-nourished and in poorer health conditions, at increased costs to our healthcare system.
 
4. Such a law will increase the disparity impact of our laws on minorities and the poor who have obtained these criminal records because of how our law enforcement and criminal justice system have operated in the past, and thus it is totally counterproductive and detrimental to the welfare of our entire society.
 
To the extent your letter does not explicitly state these reasons, I have no objection to you incorporating them or adding them in further representations or communications to the anticipated Conference Committee.

Arthur L. Burnett, Sr.
Judge - Retired
National Executive Director
National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc.
Howard University School of Law
Holy Cross Hall - Rooms 412-414
2900 Van Ness Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 806-8622 or 806-8623
Mobile: (202) 577-8365 FAX: (202) 537-3806
E-mail addresses: Aburnettsr@aol.com  Albsr2alb@aol.com

FedCURE


_______

01 September 2013

 
FedCURE Report: State of Reduction In Sentence Initiatives For Federal Offenders

Increased Good Conduct Time | Special Programming Credits | Elderly Release | Compassionate Release Program

Report Summarizing Early Release Bills from the last Congress

HTML: http://www.fedcure.org/documents/FedCURE-Report-TheState-of-ReductionInSentenceInitiativesForFederalOffenders.shtml

Many thanks to the tens of thousands of American's who supported H.R. 1475 in the 111th Congress.  Although the bill did not pass, it is not the last hurrah for federal good time legislation.  FedCURE announces The Sentencing Reform Act of 2011 and The BARBER AMENDMENT.   Please continue to contact your Congresspersons urging them to sponsor FedCURE's proposals in 113th Congress. 
 
SECOND LOOK:  Introducing The Sentencing Reform Act ~ (best practices, evidence based legislation to establish a retroactive, hybrid system of parole and good time allowances; retroactive 1-1 ratio for crack cocaine penalties and retroactive repeal of mandatory minimum sentences, for most federal offenders; and provide reentry opportunities for people coming home from prison).

Note:   The Sentencing Reform Act has not been introduced.  FedCURE is seeking bipartisan support for the bill in the 113th Congress. 


BARBER AMENDMENT:  A bill to amend Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3624(b)(1) as follows:  by striking the number "54" in the first sentence as it appears and inserting in lieu thereof the number "128"; and in the same sentence, by striking "prisoner's term of imprisonment"  and inserting in lieu thereof  "sentence imposed." This Amendment is retroactive. [END.]

Note:   The BARBER AMENDMENT  has not been introduced.  FedCURE is seeking bipartisan support for the bill in the 113th Congress.


113th Congress | First Session | 03 January 2013

Over-criminalization is an issue of liberty.
As federal criminal laws and regulations have increased, so has the number of Americans who have found themselves breaking the law with no intent of doing so.
Americans who make innocent mistakes should not be charged with criminal offenses.
 
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)
Over-Criminalization [bi-partisan] Task Force of 2013

|-|-| BARBER AMENDMENT PETITION |-|-|
 
BARBER AMENDMENT IS CURE ~ Dangerously Over Crowded Federal Prison System
 
Despite a ten year build out, spending over $1 billion dollars a year outsourcing prison cells from private prison contractors, increased double bunking and triple bunking, since 2003, the overcrowding rate hovers at 38% and FBOP forecasts 44%. The federal prison population was 165,000 in January 2003. July 2013, it is hovering at 219,000. America cannot build its way out of crowding.   Private prisons bring in about $3 billion in revenue annually.  Senate Committee Report says "None of these efforts, however, have had a significant impact on prison overcrowding" and says no more prisons. See: Senate Committee on Appropriations FY2014, Report No. 113-000, at pp. 90-91.
 
BARBER, on its own, or amended to: S.619 and H.R.1695 ~  the "Justice Safety Valve Act.,"  to H.R. 2371 ~ the Prisoner Incentive Act of 2013, or S.1410 - the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2013, increasing 54 to 128 days, retroactively, is CURE.   $1.2 billion Incarceration dollars shift to $1.2 billion Re-Entry dollars.
 
 

H. R. 2371 ~ Prisoner Incentive Act of 2013

H.R.2371 ~ `Prisoner Incentive Act of 2013' ~ offered by Rep. Scott, amends the good time statutes to: sentence imposed vs term of imprisonment and is retroactive. It is the BARBER AMENDMENT, but 54 days instead of 128 days a year in good time allowances. While FedCURE supports H.R. 2371, because it makes the BARBER fix, we seek to amend H.R.2371 by increasing the days from 54 to 128. Whereas, another bill, the "Public Safety Enhancement Act of 2013," in draft, by Reps. Chaffetz/Scott, seeks to reinvent the wheel with what FedCURE, Public Defenders and the vast majority advocates believe is totally undoable. In the end, we believe that measures like BARBER and or H.R. 2371 are Congresses' only way out.

H. R. 2371 ~  `Prisoner Incentive Act of 2013.
Latest Title:
Prisoner Incentive Act of 2013
Sponsor: Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] (introduced 6/13/2013) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 6/13/2013 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
 

 

S.1231 ~  Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2011 | Bill Will Be Reintroduced in 113th | Act Now!
 
Latest Title: Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] (introduced 6/20/2011)      Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Actions: 6/20/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
New version, with "54 days good time off sentence imposed" approved by the Committee on 21 July 2011. ~ ACT NOW!

Latest Title: Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2013
Sponsor: Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/3/2013) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 1/3/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.




FedCURE's Federal Good Time Bill Campaign: "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America"

 
~ 113th Congress ~
 
National Call - to - Action ~ BARBER AMENDMENT ~
Federal Good Time Bill
  
|-|-| BARBER AMENDMENT PETITION |-|-|
 
 
Ninety Percent (92%) Public Support for BARBER AMENDMENT - Good Time Bill.
 
Come on everyone!  Pitch in and contact the 113th Congress.  We can do it!
 
"BARBER AMENDMENT" on the "Good Time Bill"
 

Sign the petition on FedCURE/CHANGE.org:  http://snipurl.com/1o7gdj

Support | Comment the BARBER AMENDMENT on FedCURE/POPVOX:  http://pvox.co/JaNx5Y

Hi!  Thank you for coming & helping to reach out to the 113th Congress. Here are your campaing tools: First, sign the petition on this page and foward to your friends. Then start calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.  The Switchboard can direct you to your Congressional Representative and Senators.  Once you reach the office, you can use the talking points below or share your own story. Then go to:  POPVOX  and send your message to Congressional Members and Legislative Staff.   Finally, and most important, click on the "Contact Congress Now!" button, below, to send your message to your Congresspersons.
 
MESSAGE:
    Dear Members of the 113th Congress of the United States,
     
Subject: The BARBER AMENDMENT - Increased Good Time Allowances.
 
I am asking you to please support The BARBER AMENDMENT, which would amend Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3624(b)(1) as follows: by striking the number "54" in the first sentence as it appears and inserting in lieu thereof the number "128"; and in the same sentence, by striking "prisoner's term of imprisonment" and inserting in lieu thereof "sentence imposed."  This Amendment is retroactive. [END].
 
SECOND LOOK: The Federal Bureau of Prisons is running at 38% over operating capacity.  In October 2012 the GAO's David C. Maurer reported, on GAO 12-743, that a 10% reduction in the federal prison population would save $660 million a year - FedCURE estimates the number is over $1.2 billion dollars a year. Maurer also reported that home confinement would be half the cost of incarceration or half way house (RRC). See the video [19:04-19:52] here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/25878123 The President's Budget for FY 2012 and 2013, included 48 to 58 million dollars (respectively) in offsets for a proposed legislative initiative that would have allowed 54 days Good Conduct Time for inmates, as well as for general administrative efficiencies.  Neither proposal was passed by Congress.

What is more, however, is an historic, groundbreaking 2013 report, from the 'Congressional Research Service' (CRS) */ titled, "The Federal Prison Population Buildup: Overview, Policy Changes, Issues, and Options" thoroughly documents the United States' "historically unprecedented 790% increase in the federal prison population." The Report supports the long held view by many, including FedCURE, its members, partners, fellow advocate organizations, former and current members of Congress, judges, high level government officials, the nations most respected, independent nonpartisan think tanks, prominent scholars, criminal justice professionals and an overwhelming majority of the public, that Congress cannot build its way out of the mass incarceration dilemma it now faces, because of a failed criminal justice policy; and recommends Congress "changing or reversing some of the policies that have been put into place over the years which contributed to the increasing number of federal prison inmates," inter alia, increasing good time and reinstating parole.  The BARBER AMENDMENT , a simple two sentence undisruptive statutory amendment, genuinely accomplishes these ends, with out disrupting release or reentry processes and public safety, by restoring--rolling back--federal good time allowances to pre-1987 levels. Virtually, BARBER is a "Relief Valve" and $1.2 billion dollar annual austerity sentencing bill. BARBER does not reduce the bureau's budget, but redirects $1.2 billion dollars from incarceration to reentry, e.g., housing and employment.
 
While elaborating on "several options Congress could consider if policymakers wanted to expand early release options for federal inmates, including (1) reinstating parole, (2) expanding good time credits, and (3) expanding the conditions under which courts could reduce sentences pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §3582(c)(1)(A)," it is abundantly clear that the report concludes, inter alia, that the way out of the dilemma--to reduce the growth of the federal prison population--is for Congress to employ "Early Release Measures." These measures include "(1) modifying mandatory minimum penalties, (2) expanding the use of Residential Reentry Centers, (3) placing more offenders on probation, (4) reinstating parole for federal inmates, (5) expanding the amount of good time credit an inmate can earn, and (6) repealing federal criminal statutes for some offenses." BRAVO!
 
Moreover, according to the report and righteously so, "Congress might also consider changing or reversing some of the policies that have been put into place over the years which contributed to the increasing number of federal prison inmates. Some of these options include placing some inmates in alternatives to incarceration, such as probation, or expanding early release options by allowing inmates to earn more good time credit or allowing inmates to be placed on parole once again. Congress could consider reducing the amount of time inmates are incarcerated in federal prisons by limiting the number of crimes subject to mandatory minimum penalties or reducing the length of the mandatory minimum sentence. Finally, policymakers could consider allowing states to investigate and prosecute offenses that have become subject to federal jurisdiction over the past three decades" Id., at p. 57.
 
Full Report, 60 pg. PDF (indexed to highlighted sections) available at: http://www.fedcure.org/documents/CRS_FederalPrisonPopulationBuildup_R42937-220113fc.pdf

* Note: Special thanks to Nathan James, Analyst in Crime Policy, CRS, njames@crs.loc.gov, for this report. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is an arm of the Library of Congress devoted to providing for Congress research and analysis on legislative issues. In addition to meeting with Congressional members and staffers, CRS releases reports and issue briefs for members of Congress. These reports and issue briefs are made available to Congress through a web site that is not available to the general public. The CRS strongly believes that its sole purpose is to directly serve Congress and not the public. https://opencrs.com/faq/

Bipartisan Support: Republican's (www.RightOnCrime.com) and Democrat's ( http://www.besmartoncrime.org) and members of Congress agree that the current prison system is way so ineffective and that we have been wrong on crime for the past 28 years. It has been a escalating burden on taxpayers who are footing the bill for more prisons. The penal model enacted by Public Law 98-473 (Sentencing Reform Act of 1984) of "incapacitation" in lieu of "rehabilitation and reentry" has failed miserably. We can and must do better.

Our economic crisis is due in part to the state of our judicial system where so many first time non violent offenders are given Draconian sentences and no means to redeem themselves. Once in the prison system, they have no reason to desire rehabilitation or work towards early release.

Americans want to see results, not stiffer sentences. We can change they way the judicial system enforces punishment and how inmates serve their time in a way that would benefit both the inmate and society. The BARBER AMENDMENT would benefit the following:
* The BARBER AMENDMENT allows the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to maintain correctional worker staffing and help relieve overcrowding of prisons.
* The Federal Bureau of Prisons has a budget that exceeds $6.8 billion dollars a year. After the FBI, the BOP has the largest budget of any unit in the Department of Justice.
* The BARBER AMENDMENT saves taxpayers $1.2 billion dollars per year on incarceration cost, that can be redirected to reentry.
* Releasing 10% of the federal prison population will not disrupt existing Federal Bureau of Prisons policy and procedures and public safety; and GAO says saves $660 million a year.
* The BARBER AMENDMENT - Good Time Allowances rewards those inmates who have shown positive behavior.
* Although early release would not be guaranteed, it would allow a Second Chance to those who prove they are deserving of it.
* The cost to house an inmate for 12 months is almost $30,000.00. Costs rise significantly for all inmates over age 60 and nearly double or quadruple for inmates with medical issues.
* People in prison do not receive the same health care as free people and lengthy non-parolable sentences cause medical emergencies for those in facilities; and huge indigent health care costs upon release.
* The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) is the largest police force in the United States, more then 38,000 employees. The AFGE.org, the FBOP's labor union, is battling on the Hill to add 15,000 correctional officers because of safety concerns due to overcrowding and budget cuts. Both Republicans and Democrats agree that building additional bed space in prisons will not resolve the systemic issues of the prison system. We can not build our way out of this.
* The BOP has been triple bunking because of lack of bed space, which heightens tensions and makes it more dangerous for both staff and inmates.
Federal Sentencing data collected, post Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (over 29 years) provides the gold standard of evidence on what works and what does not; and when is the proper time to release an offender from a sentence while posing no risk to public safety. I would also direct you to these facts: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=164544453571541
 
The government's experts on these issues all support reforms, such as early release, via increased good time allowances and reinstating parole, as evidenced in the CRS Report, supra, and further, by the distinguised pannels sitting on FedCURE NEWS Presentation Second Look.  Please take the time to watch U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer (Video #1), U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder (Video #2) and most of all, Patricia Cushwa, Commissioner of the United States Parole Commission (Video #11) and Harley G. Lappin, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Video #8).  I would be remiss, however, if I did not strongly urge you to view all of the video's on "Panel Four, titled: Good Time, Community Corrections and Re-Entry." See the exclusive videos here:http://www.fedcure.org/SecondLook.shtml
 
Institution Crowding:

This chart shows federal inmate cells at normal rated capacity versus overcrowded conditions at low, medium and high security facilities.  Despite a ten year build out, increased double bunking and triple bunking, since 2003, the overcrowding rate hovers at 38%.  The federal prison population was 165,000 in January 2003.  April 2013, it was 218,500.  Proof, the bureau cannot build its way out of crowding.

Testimony of BOP, Director, Charles E. Samuels, Jr., to House Appropriations, Subcommittee, 17 April 2013:.

[Quote] The BOP confines over 176,000 inmates in Bureau-operated facilities, which have a total rated capacity of just under 129,000 beds. Crowding is of special concern at higher security facilities, including penitentiaries (operating at 54 percent over capacity) and medium security institutions (operating at 44 percent over capacity). These facilities confine a higher number of inmates who are prone to violence than lower security facilities. The BOP has managed overcrowding by double and triple bunking inmates throughout the system, or housing them in space not originally designed for inmate housing, such as television rooms, open bays, program space, etc.

In addition to double and triple bunking, to manage crowding, we have improved the architectural design of our newer facilities and have taken advantage of improved technologies in security measures such as perimeter security systems, surveillance cameras, and equipment to monitor communications. These technologies support BOP employees’ ability to provide inmates the supervision they need in order to maintain security and safety in our institutions. We have also enhanced population management and inmate supervision strategies in areas such as classification and designation, intelligence gathering, gang management, use of preemptive lockdowns, and controlled movement. While we continue to look for ways to address crowding in our facilities, the challenges continue as we face continued growth in the inmate population.

The BOP performed a rigorous analysis of the effects of crowding and staffing on inmate rates of violence, and found a direct relationship between crowding, staffing, and institution safety. Data was used from all low, medium, and high security BOP facilities for male inmates for the period July 1996 through December 2004. We accounted for a variety of factors known to influence the rate of violence and, in this way, were able to isolate and review the impact that crowding and the inmate-to-staff ratio had on serious assaults. This study found that increases in both the inmate-to-staff ratio and the rate of crowding at an institution (the number of inmates relative to the institution’s rated capacity) are related to increases in the rate of serious inmate assaults. An increase of one in an institution’s inmate-to-custody-staff ratio increases the prison’s annual serious assault rate by approximately 4.5 per 5,000 inmates.

The BOP employs many management interventions in an attempt to prevent and suppress inmate violence. These interventions are resource-intensive and include: paying overtime to increase the number of custody staff available to perform security duties, utilizing staff from program areas (detracting from inmate programs and other vital institution functions), locking down an institution after a serious incident and performing intensive interviews to identifyperpetrators and causal factors, performing comprehensive searches to eliminate weapons and other dangerous contraband, and designating and housing inmates in Special Management Units (SMU). SMU inmates consist of sentenced offenders who participated in or had a leadership role in geographical group/gang-related activity, or those who have a history of disruptive, disciplinary and/or misconduct infractions. The BOP designates inmates to SMUs because greater management of their interaction is necessary to ensure the safety, security, and orderly operation of BOP facilities, and protection of the public. SMU inmates require a more restrictive confinement than general population inmates. The BOP currently has three SMU locations. [End Quote].

Sadly, while the bureau and DOJ argue for relief on crowding, the President's Budget or FY 2014, once again submits an unrealistic proposal to address crowding with a miniscule budget offset of "$41 million for a proposed legislative initiative, which, if passed, would allow additional Good Conduct Time credit for inmates."  This is the same proposal to increase Good Conduct Time credit by a mere seven (7) days a year, that Congress turned down in the President's Budget's for FY2012 and FY2013, as "unrealistic," meaning that a seven day increase as a $41 million dollar offset, does little to safely reduce the growth of the federal prison population. BARBER, on the other hand, is a truly realistic legislative reform, installing a system wide "Relief Valve" and as a $1.2 billion dollar annual austerity sentencing bill.

FedCURE is calling on the President and Members of Congress to enact the BARBER AMENDMENT ~ a proposed bill to increase federal good time allowances ~ to safely reduce the federal prison population by at least 10%, with out disrupting release or reentry processes and public safety, at a cost saving's of $1.2 billion dollars annually. These savings on incarceration can be redirected (within in the bureau's budget) to reentry.

Since inmates "earned" the right to be in prison, why can't they also "earn" the right of release and reentry?

The BARBER AMENDMENT would greatly contribute to the healing of our economy and the healing of our nation. There are almost 219,000 people incarcerated in federal prison today and the majority of these are first time non violent offenders, whom under current Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Probation Office procedures, can be safely released via increased good time allowances, with no disruption to release and reentry processes and public safety

Accordingly, I urge you, in the most strongest terms, to please support The BARBER AMENDMENT.

Sincerely Yours,

Signed by: _____________________

Note: Send your message to your Congressperson(s) and Chairpersons, Honorable Bob Goodlatte and Honorable Patrick J. Leahy. Click Contact Congress button and see contact information at: http://www.fedcure.org/documents/HR1475.shtml.


Be Relentless:

  •  Keep calling until your Congressperson(s) agree to sponsor the BARBER AMENDMENT, make an appointment to see them, if  necessary to get their support.



Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition

FedCURE's Idea "Increase Federal Good Time Allowances" is the Winner in the "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America" on Change.org.

FedCURE/CHANGE.org Discussion on the BARBER AMENDMENT: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/increase_federal_good_time_allowances
 

FedCURE has put out a call for interviews of people with cases that will benefit from the BARBER AMENDMENT - Federal Good Time Bill. 
Please contact FedCURE at:  http://www.fedcure.org/contact.shtml.



||| FedCURE c2a |||

OPPOSE U.S. Rep's. Hudson, Reed and Scott's, mean spirited, Amendments, to the "Farm Bill" - H.R. 1947.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ~ FARM BILL DEFEATED In the U.S. House in a 195-234 vote. BRAVO! Job Well Done.

Now on to the BARBER AMENDMENT.

 

20 June 2013/17:00
 
UPDATE:
 
In a 195-234 vote, the FARM Bill #HR1947 was defeated in the House. BRAVO!
 
Just when we thought we were down after loosing on the Hudson and Reed Amendments, late last night, the entire bill has been defeated in the House.
 
HASH TAGS: #Piss4Food #foodstamps #farmbill #hr1947
 
BRAVO.
 
Many kind thanks for all of your support. Job well done.
 
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

From POPVOX's Hill sources:

In the House:

The House started early and was on track to pass a Farm Bill, but in the final vote, the bill failed 195-234.

The bill was H.R. 1947, and included some reforms to U.S. farm policy. Nearly all the heated debate, however dealt with the food stamps program, and in fact roughly 80 percent of the bill deals with food stamps.

The legislation was always on shaky ground, as it cut $20 billion from food stamps, which most Democrats opposed. Democrats also opposed language added at the last minute that would let states tie food stamp benefits to work requirements.

At the same time, many Republicans felt more cuts were needed, as the overall expense of the bill was nearly 60 percent higher than the last farm bill in 2008. The cost increase reflected additional food stamp spending, some of which was provided by the 2009 stimulus bill.

In the end, just 24 Democrats voted for it, while House Leadership had expected 40 Democrats to support the bill. More importantly, 62 Republicans voted against it, making it impossible to overcome the weight of opposition on both sides.

It's not clear what's next, but a temporary patch may be needed. The Senate has already passed a farm bill that spends a bit more than the House proposal.

http://www.popvox.com/blog/

FedCURE

 

OPPOSE U.S. Rep's. Hudson, Reed and Scott's, mean spirited, Amendments, to the "Farm Bill" - H.R. 1947.

Piss-4-Food is just plain WRONG!

PEOPLE Please:  CONTACT CONGRESS NOW!

Call the Capital Switchboard to talk to your Congressperson: 1.888.891.3271 .

Tell your Congressperson to OPPOSE U.S. Rep's. Hudson, Reed and Scott's, mean spirited, Amendments to the "Farm Bill"

H.R. 1947 - Bans food assistance to certain offenders.

tweet:  #Piss4Food

ORGANIZATIONS ~ Please SignOn:  Deadline, Today, Thursday, June 20, at 12 pm

To SignOn, please forward this message and name of your organization to:

Grant Smith: gsmith@drugpolicy.org

Mark O'Brien:  mobrien@lac.org

Jeremy Haile: jhaile@sentencingproject.org

OPPOSE:  Cuts in the House bill "particularly to the federal food stamp program" have drawn complaints from Democrats.  Many Republicans believe the bill still spends too much, making it unclear whether it can survive in the House.  However, the Amendments below, if passed, will be a huge social disruption and have a negative impact on the people who need the assistance the most, which will only increase recidivism rates.  The only ones who win here are the people who own the drug testing enterprises:  "PISS-4-FOOD."

ALL, Please  OPPOSE the Amendments, to the "Farm Bill" - H.R. 1947:
  • REED.  AMENDMENT TO RULES COMMITTEE PRINT 113-14, H.R. 1947 FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2013 OFFERED BY MR. REED OF NEW YORK:

    Food and Nutrition Act, ELIGIBILITY DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTAIN CONVICTED FELONS.

  • HUDSON.  AMENDMENT TO THE RULES COMMITTEE PRINT OF H.R. 1947 OFFERED BY MR. HUDSON OF NORTH CAROLINA:

    Drug testing food stamp recipients (Rep. Hudson ? Amendment No. 46):  Would allow states to begin drug testing persons who apply or receive SNAP benefits (food stamps).  The courts, for good cause, have prevented sates from imposing drug testing, but Amendment No. 46 would override the courts ban.
  • SCOTT.  AMENDMENT TO RULES COMMITTEE PRINT 113-14, H.R. 1947 FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2013 OFFERED BY MR. AUSTIN SCOTT OF GEORGIA:

    Require states to deny TANF for drug felonies (Rep. Scott - Amendment No. 131):  Would repeal a long standing federal law that has allowed states to opt-out of federal ban on the provision of both TANF and SNAP to persons with a drug felony conviction on their record (traditionally, the states have opted-out of the federal ban to deny assistance to persons with a drug felony conviction.. Evidence gathered under the gold standard shows that drug felons are among the most in need of food assistance).

These amendments must still be approved by the House Rules committee, so it is important you take action in opposition, today.

TAKE ACTION NOW! 


 
tweet: #Piss4Food
 
 



112th CONGRESS Ended 03 January 2013

NOTE: None of the bills below passed the 112th. All will have to be reintroduced in the 113th Congress


S.306 ~  National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2011
 
Full Text:  http://www.fedcure.org/documents/S.306.shtml
Latest Title: National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 2/8/2011) Cosponsors (30)
Latest Major Action: 2/8/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.



 
Latest Title: Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep Jackson Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2011) (mark-up 7/14/2011 - held over for week of 7/18/2011)   Reintroduced 1/3/2013 as H.R. 62, supra.   Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 1/24/2011 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.


 
H.R.  2343 - Literacy, Education, and Rehabilitation Act (LERA), currently in Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, which would amend Section 3624 of title 18, United States Code, to, inter alia:
    • Increase good time to 54 days for each year of the prisoner's sentence imposed by the court; and
    • Credit toward the service of the prisoner's sentence, in addition to any other credit received, beyond the time already served, of up to 60 days a year.

 

STOP!   S.1672 IS and H.R.313 EH: the `Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2011'

S.1672
Latest Title: Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2011
Sponsor: Sen Conrad, Kent [ND] (introduced 10/6/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills:H.R.313
Latest Major Action: 10/6/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.313
Latest Title:
Drug Trafficking Safe Harbor Elimination Act of 2011
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] (introduced 1/18/2011) Cosponsors (1)
Related Bills:S.1672
Latest Major Action: 12/14/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
House Reports: 112-324 Part 1

These are very bad bills that exacerbate current law (21 USC 846) by criminalizing arrangements made in the United States for drug transactions that take place completely outside this country, some of which may not even be illegal in the countries where they occur.  The penalties under these bills can be life without parole.

Today, we are telling Congress to end drug prohibition, because the 'War on Drugs' is a War on Free Speech.

COMMENTS:

If this does not make your hair stand up on your head, then you are not understanding that Conspiracy laws are particularly susceptible to abuse, and convicting someone based on discussions about activity that may be criminal has very serious ramifications. Today, we are telling Congress to end drug prohibition, because the 'War on Drugs' is a War on Free Speech. Read this atrocious attack on your freedom to speak.

This can mean that you could get a life sentence without parole for a unwitting act on your part. For example: You help out a friend in a foreign country to buy an airline ticket. You pay with your credit card. Unbeknown to you, your friend boards the airplane with his friend. Together, they smuggle 10 kilos of heroin in their bags. They get busted when they land in JFK. They are looking at life without parole and want to make a deal for a lesser sentence. So, your friend and his friend say the heroin was for you. Bam! You are in the conspiracy, as further evidenced by your purchasing the airfare--you are a person who aids or abets the conspiracy. Sick yet? It gets worse. Guess what? You engaged in conduct within the United States to aid or abet drug trafficking outside the United States, and still may be criminally prosecuted in the United States, as if committed within the United States.

We know that would made you sick. Get on it and contact Congress to defeat this bill.

ACTION: Contact Your Congressperson (Senate & House) NOW! Let them know that H.R. 313 and S.1672 are bad bills that must be defeated.

PLEASE:  Contact Your Congressperson (Senate & House) NOW!  Let them know that H.R. 313 and S.1672 are bad bills that must be defeated. Send Congress a letter. 

ACTION ALERT:  http://www.fedcure.org/documents/H.R.313~S.1672.shtml



Congratulations! It is Official!


FedCURE's Idea "H.R. 1475" is the Winner in the "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America" on Change.org.


Job Well Done! Stay Tuned!


Click on the VOTE Button to Learn More

FedCURE has put out a call for interviews of people with cases that will benefit from H.R. 1475. 
Please contact FedCURE at:  http://www.fedcure.org/contact.shtml.


Update Alert:    21 December 2010
Original Alert:  12 March 2009
 
FedCURE Contact Congress Campaign:  "Good Time Allowances"
 
H.R. 1475 - `Federal Prison Work Incentive Act of 2009' - 'A bill To amend title 18, United States Code, to restore the former system of good time allowances toward service of Federal prison terms, and for other purposes.  Status:  Submitted  by Rep. Danny K. Davis (D. ILL) on 12 March 2009. 
 
Full text and status of the bill:  http://www.fedcure.org/documents/HR1475.shtml.
 
Action Alert:  Do your part.  Contact your Congressperson(s) and urge them to support this bill.  Go to:  FedCURE's Contact Congress page at: http://www.fedcure.org/ContactCongressREP-SEN.shtml
 
Congratulations FedCURE'rs!
 
On behalf of FedCURE's Board of Directors, Members, Supporters and Friends, we wish to extend our appreciation to you and all the folks at Change.org for partnering with us to make FedCURE's Idea to "Increase Federal Good Time Allowances ~ H.R. 1475" one of the "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America."  See:  http://www.change.org/ideas/view/increase_federal_good_time_allowances.
 
FedCURE has put out a call for interviews of people with cases that will benefit from H.R. 1475.  Please contact FedCURE at:  http://www.fedcure.org/contact.shtml.
 
Many Thanks for All of Your Support.  Onward with the campaign!

Pass It On!  Pass It On!
 

Update Alert: 21 December 2010
Original Alert: 07 July 2005

 
Hybrid System of Federal Parole and Good Time Legislation (110th Congress)
 
There are now two separate bills:
 
1.  A Hybrid System of Parole:   
FedCURE draft legislation is pending in Rep. Danny K. Davis' office.  We will post more information as it becomes available.  Please do not clog up the FedCURE discussion group, blogs and or e-mails with redundant questions on the timing of introduction of this bill.
 
H.R. 1475 - `Federal Prison Work Incentive Act of 2009'  ~ A bill To amend title 18, United States Code, to restore the former system of good time allowances toward service of Federal prison terms, and for other purposes.  Status:  Submitted on 12 March 2009 by Rep. Danny K. Davis (D. ILL).
Former Bill HR 7089, full text in PDF:  H.R. 7089 in PDF.
FedCURE's Contact Congress Page at: http://www.fedcure.org/ContactCongressREP-SEN.shtml


 
 

United States Sentencing Commission

 
Click here for:  Symposium Information and Presentation Materials
 

 
Congressional and USSC hearings

:     

 
U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies:  

http://www.fedcure.org/information/HouseCJSR-USSC-Hrngs.shtml

 
United States Sentencing Commission:  

http://www.fedcure.org/information/HouseCJSR-USSC-Hrngs.shtml

 

 

United States Sentencing Guidelines

Crack Cocaine Amendment | Retroactivity
Effective 03 March 2007

 

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Request For Proposals (RFP)

 

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