Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Let's get this Resolution passed!!!

U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson from Texas has proposed a Resolution to have the prison sentences shortened for non-violent offenders. By coming together as a committed group of people, we can help her get co-sponsors for the Resolution, and hopefully get the Bill passed by the entire House of Representatives. (The Resolution is presented below.)

Please invite others to post to this blog.


Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)

HR 261 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 261

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an alternate release date for certain nonviolent offenders, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 2007
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide an alternate release date for certain nonviolent offenders, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. EARLY RELEASE FOR CERTAIN NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS.

(a) In General- Section 3624 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting `at the early release date provided in subsection (g), if applicable, or otherwise' after `A prisoner shall be released by the Bureau of Prisons'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(g) Early Release for Certain Nonviolent Offenders- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Bureau of Prisons, pursuant to a good time policy, shall release from confinement a prisoner who has served one half or more of his term of imprisonment (including any consecutive term or terms of imprisonment) if that prisoner--
`(1) has attained the age of 45 years;
`(2) has never been convicted of a crime of violence; and
`(3) has not engaged in any violation, involving violent conduct, of institutional disciplinary regulations.'.

8 comments:

pansy said...

please support this bill

marshal perkins said...

I personally support this bill from the experience of having a loved one charged with white collar crime. The time to be served was over exagerated by the federal judge. Families struggeled and the family run business was ruined. If this person could have continued with the business as a working citizen instead of doing nothing in prison, money would have been earned and saved. I wish us all luck with this issue.

Ellis Lacombe said...

I fully support HR 261.I feel that first time offenders are not hardened criminals and will be rehabilitated by serving half of their sentence.What good will it do to keep first time offenders imprisoned until they are too old to be productive citizens.We need to make all of our U S Representatives aware that we want their support for this bill.Send e-mails or write to your Congressman to Co-sponser or support this bill.

Unknown said...

jerry brown says:

I urge all members of congress to support bill hr261 to release non-violent offenders. Many offenders are incarcerated first time offenders that should not have been incarcerated anyway. Many are just victims of circumstance, that were prosecuted by over zealous prosecuters, that threatened offenders by stiffer jail terms and prosecution of family members, who were also innocent unless they accepted a plea bargain. I urge all members of congress to end these terrible practices as soon as possible. Also to pass hr261.
thank you
jerry brown

Wendya said...

My sister is also serving time in a Federal Facility for a "white collar" crime. Our family and friends have started a letter writing campaign asked for support for HR261. I myself sent out over 60 letters to every one of the NC senators. Our family and friends have sent out letters in their states as well, we are sending them to every senator for our states. Our sister has had fellow inmates families contact me, and I have sent them a copy of the letter that I wrote to be sent out in their states. My family alone has covered NC, VA, and FL. If you are interested I will email you a copy of the letter that I wrote for you to use to send to your senators. Maybe if we bombard these senators from all sides asking for their support, we can get this bill passed. I know VA will love us, all of the senators are going to be getting about 10 copies of the letter asking for their support. If you would like to email me and get this you can contact me at Wendyax5@peoplepc.com. Lets all work together and get our loved ones out of these places that they should never have gone to in the first place. Thanks!!!

Charlene Reed said...

Please pass this bill. My daughter has been incarcerated since Feb. 2008 and received 20 months for a first time offense(Non-violent) and her husband has stood behind her, but it is really taking a toll on her family. She has a 6 year old son and she needs to be released and given a second chance to get her life back on track. She deserves it. She has been a model prisoner with no disruptions of any kind so this bill needs to be passed. It won't be a mistake!

loida said...

I fully support this bill because many of the men and women currently incarcerated with non violent charges have wives and husbands out here as well as children that are struggling to get through it. The children are the ones who suffer the most because they are scared, lonely, confused, hurt and lost. They end up doing poorly in school and act out at school as well as home. The early release would allow for the family unit to be reconstructed and help the school officials who have to deal with the children who are acting out. It is a form of rehabilitation for the released inmates as well as the families!!!!!!!

loida said...

LOIDA WILLIAMS. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS BILL BECAUSE MANY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE IN THERE WITH NON-VIOLENT CHARGES HAVE CHILDREN AND WIVES AND HUSBANDS OUT HERE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE WITHOUT THEM. IT IS MENTAL TORMENT ON THE HUSBANDS AND WIVES AND DESTROYING THE CHILDREN. SOME OF THE CHILDREN BECOME COMPLACENT AND END UP DOING POORLY IN SCHOOL AND/OR ACT OUT AT HOME BECAUSE THEY ARE HURT, CONFUSED, SCARED, LONELY, AND LOST. THOSE WITH NON-VIOLENT CHARGES COULD BE RELEASED BACK HOME AND HELP WITH THEIR LOVED ONES AND REDUCE THE STRESS THAT IS PUT ON THE FAMILIES AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH THE AFFECTED CHILDREN!