FAMM's FAQ factsheets answer commonly asked questions from our members about developments in federal sentencing policy. To view these documents, your computer needs the free Adobe Acrobat reader. FAMM cannot provide you or your loved one with legal advice, referrals to attorneys, legal research, or representation. *Please read our full legal disclaimer.
FAQs and factsheets
FAQ: The Second Chance Reauthorization Act (added 8/3/11)
FAQ: The 2011 Retroactive Crack Guideline Amendment (updated 7/8/11)
FAQ: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (a/k/a, the new crack law) (updated 8/3/11)
Factsheet: Myth vs. Fact: The 2011 Retroactive Crack Guideline Amendment (updated 7/12/11)
Factsheet: How Federal Sentencing Works: Mandatory Minimums, Statutory Maximums, and Sentencing Guidelines
Factsheet: How Congress Can Cut Criminal Justice Spending Without Compromising Public Safety
Factsheet: Frequency of Creation/Expansion of Federal Mandatory Minimums
State Sentencing
Factsheet: State responses to mandatory minimum laws
Finding legal help
FAQ: State or federal?
FAQ: Finding and working with a lawyer
Crack cocaine
FAQ: The 2011 Retroactive Crack Guideline Amendment (updated 7/8/11)
Factsheet: Myth vs. Fact: The 2011 Retroactive Crack Guideline Amendment (updated 7/12/11)
Factsheet: A brief history of crack cocaine sentencing laws
FAQ: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (a/k/a the new crack law) (updated 8/3/11)
FAQ: 2007 "crack minus two" amendment retroactivity
U.S. Sentencing Guideline amendments
Factsheet: Federal sentencing guideline amendments - how the process works
Factsheet: Amendments to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
FAQ: The 2010 recency amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines
FAQ: The 2011 Retroactive Crack Guideline Amendment (updated 7/8/11)
Understanding federal mandatory minimums
Factsheet: Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws in a Nutshell
Factsheet: How Federal Sentencing Works: Mandatory Minimums, Statutory Maximums, and Sentencing Guidelines
Factsheet: Safety Valves in a Nutshell
Factsheet: Federal mandatory minimum statutes
Factsheet: Mandatory minimum drug sentences, 21 U.S.C. § 841
Factsheet: Continuing criminal enterprise, 21 U.S.C. § 848
Factsheet: Mandatory minimums for use or carrying a firearm, 21 U.S.C. § 924(c)
Factsheet: Mandatory minimums for armed career criminal act, 21 U.S.C. § 924(e)
Factsheet: Alternatives to incarceration
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), good time, and halfway houses
Factsheet: Helping Your Loved One in Federal Prison
FAQ: The Second Chance Reauthorization Act (added 8/3/11)
FAQ: The Second Chance Act
FAQ: BOP's Residential Drug Abuse Program (R-DAP)
FAQ: Federal halfway houses and home confinement
FAQ: Federal good time credit
How to influence your lawmakers
FAQ: Tips for an effective meeting with Congress
Fact sheet: Attending a town hall meeting
Commutations and compassionate release
Factsheet: FAMM's guide to filing a federal commutation petition
FAQ: Commutations and pardons
FAQ: Compassionate release
Understanding who's in prison
FAQ: Marijuana offenders
Factsheet: Women in prisons