Sunday, July 27, 2014

U.S. Sentencing Commission Supports Early Release For 46K Drug Felons


WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of federal inmates serving time for drug crimes may be eligible for early release under a cost-cutting proposal adopted Friday that would dramatically reduce the nation’s prison population over time.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission, which earlier this year voted to substantially lower recommended sentences for drug-dealing felons, voted unanimously to retroactively apply that change to prisoners now behind bars.

More than 46,000 inmates, including many who have already served a decade or longer in prison, would be eligible to seek early release under the commission’s decision. A judge would review the case of each prisoner seeking to get out early to decide if the release would jeopardize public safety. The releases would start in November 2015 and be phased in over a period of years.

The commission, an independent panel that sets sentencing policy, estimates sentences would be cut by an average of 25 months.
“The magnitude of the change, both collectively and for individual offenders, is significant,” said commission chairwoman Patti Saris, a federal judge in Massachusetts.

Advocates of the early-release plan say it would cut prison costs – nearly one-half of the federal prison population is locked up for drug crimes – and scale back some of the harsh sentences imposed during the country’s war on drugs. Prisoner advocacy groups immediately trumpeted the change, calling it a matter of fundamental fairness.

“This vote will change the lives of tens of thousands of families whose loved ones were given overly long drug sentences,” Julie Stewart, president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said in a statement. The sentencing change comes amid a broader rethinking of criminal justice policy that the Justice Department, under Attorney General Eric Holder, has embraced.

With an eye toward addressing sentencing disparities rooted in the 1980′s-era fight against crack cocaine, and cutting a prison population that’s roughly 32 percent above capacity, the Justice Department has issued new clemency criteria designed to encourage thousands of additional inmates to seek an early release. Last year, Holder directed federal prosecutors to avoid seeking mandatory minimum sentences – which limit the discretion of judges to impose shorter sentences – for nonviolent drug offenders.
“This is a milestone in the effort to make more efficient use of our law enforcement resources and to ease the burden on our overcrowded prison system,” Holder said in a statement.

The proposal adopted Friday is actually more expansive than one advanced by Holder last month, which would have applied to roughly 20,000 drug inmates who have limited criminal pasts and who did not use a weapon during their crime.

Though sentencing guidelines are advisory rather than mandatory, judges still rely heavily on them in deciding on prison sentences. The guidelines recommend sentences that factor in the types and quantities of the drugs. The commission in April voted to lower recommended sentences across all drug types, meaning, for instance, that a cocaine package of a given size would now be linked to a shorter range of punishment than before.

Congress has until November to voice opposition to the commission’s plan, though advocates consider that unlikely. Courts at that point could begin considering petitions from prisoners seeking to get out of prison. Early releases wouldn’t begin until a year later.

This is not the first time the sentencing commission has supported an early release for drug offenders. In 2011, the commission voted to retroactively apply a law that reduced the sentencing disparity for crack versus powder cocaine.

Commission members said they believe they have taken steps to ensure public safety, such as requiring a judge to sign off on a defendant’s early release. They also voted to delay the release until next year to give judges enough time to consider whether defendants are good candidates to be let out early.

Among those attending Friday’s hearing was Adrienne Willis of Camp Springs, Md., who said her 47-year-old son, Bernard Gibson, might be among those who benefit. She said he’s already spent 18 years at a federal prison in Virginia for a drug-dealing conspiracy and still has more time to serve.

“I thought that prison was supposed to rehabilitate people,” she said. “If someone’s been in prison for 18 years and they’re not rehabilitated, whose fault is that?”Some, though not all, judges have joined advocacy groups in championing the change.

“Even though retroactivity and individualized assessment for all eligible persons is time intensive and administratively burdensome, it is the right thing to do so that we can again ensure that our criminal justice system is fair to all concerned,” U.S District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island wrote in a letter to the commission.

But some prosecutors, including some within the Justice Department, have raised public safety concerns. A group of federal prosecutors, the National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, said the move would lead to higher crime and give defendants little incentive to resolve their cases through plea deals.


“The strong sentencing scheme that has been in place in place over the last 25 years in our country has contributed to the lowest crime rates in more than a generation,” the organization wrote.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014


Dr Campbell profiled in Forest of The Rain's Weekly Parent and PGCPS EduSocial Network Educational View 


Access to Higher Education and Beyond: What You Can Do Now

Prince George's County Drug Policy Coalition President, Dr Valencia Campbell, was recently recognized by Forest of the Rain. Forest of the Rain is an educational affairs organization. It was founded in 1995 with a mission of expanding the conversation on and about education, fair housing, and academic research.

Dr Campbell's work was highlighted in this week's Parent and PGCPS EduSocial Network Educational View. Her Educational View is entitled, "Access to Higher Education and Beyond: What You Can Do Now."






An excerpt from the article states: "Valencia is the author of Advice from the Top: What Minority Women Say about Their Career Success. The Washington Post Gazette, Prince George's Suite Magazine, and the Virginian Pilot are among the print media that featured her book. She was selected to discuss her book at the Congressional Black Caucus Author's Pavilion, World Children's Festival, and the National Press Club Book Fair and Author's Night."  

Please click on the link below to view the full article as well as Dr Campbell's audio footage at the bottom of the page:




Saturday, July 5, 2014

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DRUG POLICY COALITION, INC. “EMPOWERING FUTURE LEADERS” SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST

On Thursday June 19, the Prince George's County Drug Policy Coalition held our "Empowering Future Leaders Scholarship Breakfast" at the Clarion Hotel in Oxon Hill, MD.


The Mistress of Ceremonies was Ms Tracee Wilkins, Prince George's County Bureau Chief of News Channel 4

Our guest speaker was Dr Ivory Toldson, Deputy Director White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Also in attendance was The Honorable Obie Patterson, Prince George's County Council Member District 8.

Below are some photographs taken at the event. The Coalition awarded many scholarships worth $1,000 each to deserving high school seniors and college students in District 8. The Prince George's County Drug Policy Coalition would like to express our gratitude to all who were in attendance as well everyone who continues to support our work in our communities. We would also like take a moment to thank Mr Maurice G. Fitzgerald for taking the photographs below. Please take a moment to click "Like" on our Facebook, Prince George's County Drug Policy Coaltion,  to remain updated on issues related to drug policy, criminal justice, and education, as well as our many upcoming events. We look forward to seeing you at future Coalition events.



Dr Ivory Toldson, Deputy Director White House Initiative
on Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Student Awardees and Coalition Members

Mistress of Ceremonies was Ms Tracee Wilkins


Maryland State Senator C. Anthony Muse

Dr Toldson, Senator Muse, Maryland State Delegate Jolene Ivey,
Coalition President Dr Valencia Campbell, Student Awardee,
and PG County District 8 Councilman Obie Patterson

Mayor Eugene Grant




Councilman Obie Patterson










Senator Muse and
Judge Arthur Burnett, President of the National African American
Drug Policy Coalition (NAADPC) 










Dr Campbell, Duke Haggins,
and Ronald Blakely





Coalition Members Dr Campbell, Duke Haggins,
and Ronald Blakely

Dr Valencia Campbell with a citation from
the Maryland General Assembly

Coalition Member Ms Cheryle Mines















Entourage Jazz Band Members






The Prince George's County Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. represents one of many local affiliates of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition, Inc. Our national organization consists of a coalition of 25 preeminent organizations. Through the support of our national organization, interested organizational partners, and grassroots members like you, we hope to prevent and reduce illegal drug abuse and related crimes in Prince George's County.