FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 3, 2010
Contact: Monica Pratt Raffanel media@famm.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a victory for rational sentencing, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday limited the reach of one of the most punitive mandatory minimum sentencing enhancements in federal law. A seven-justice majority ruled that crimes will not be considered “violent” under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), a condition that triggers a minimum 15-year sentence enhancement, unless the accused uses physical force against another person. The case is Johnson v. United States, No. 08-6925.
“We are pleased the Supreme Court has taken this small, but significant step for rational sentencing. FAMM has long opposed the 15-year mandatory minimum in the ACCA, because it punishes too many people who don’t deserve the label ‘armed career criminal,” said Mary Price, vice president and general counsel of Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), a group that promotes individualized, proportionate and fair sentences.
Price attended oral arguments in the Johnson case. Her more detailed account of the case and the Court’s decision can be found by clicking here or by going to FAMM’s website, www.famm.org.