Mass release of US drug inmates causes worries
A US government plan to release thousands of drug inmates over prison overcrowding has sparked fears of recidivism and flare-up of crimes.
Some 6,600 inmates will be freed over the weekend, with 16,500 expected to get out in the course of the first year. More than 40,000 federal felons could be released early over the next several years, the US Sentencing Commission said.
The sentencing commission decided a year ago to lower maximum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and to make the change retroactive, with the inmate releases effective November 1, 2015. Sentences were reduced an average of 18%, CNN cited the commission figures.
About half the inmates to be released were convicted of crack and powder cocaine offenses, followed by methamphetamine at 31.2%, heroin at 7.4% and marijuana at 8.9%. About 2.7% of the inmates were convicted of Oxycodone offenses and 1% Hydrocodone offenses.
The program is part of efforts by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to reduce the federal prison population which has grown to more than 200,000 inmates.
Yet, not everyone subscribes to the idea, as critics point out that tough anti-drug laws have helped lower related crimes.
According to FBI figures, US crime has dropped 12 percent over the past five years. Some say that was due in part to tough sentencing guidelines. The attorneys who prosecute criminals predict violent crime will rise again with the shorter sentences.
"The recidivism rate among offenders nationwide is nearly 77 percent," says Steve Wasserman, treasurer of the National Association of Assistant US Attorneys. He cited a study from the National Institute of Justice, saying, "It’s virtually guaranteed a large percentage of the individuals, the inmates being released, are going to reoffend," US media reports quoted him as saying.
Mass rallies held in major US cities in support of Gaza
Yale students threaten hunger strike over university connection to Gaza war
Yale students stage hunger strike to demand divestment from Israel
US vetoes Palestinian request for full UN membership
Iran sufficed to striking part of Israel’s military positions: FM to UN chief
IRGC: Israel’s Dimnoa nuclear reactor not among Op. True Promise’s targets
VIDEO | West Asia awakens
'Stop any further Israeli adventurism,' Iran FM tells Security Council
Google fires 28 employees for protesting military deal with Israel
Burkina Faso expels three French diplomats over ‘subversive activities’
Iran slams G7 statement, vows no iota of doubt to respond to aggression
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
