December 12, 2012
Read all about it! You’ve got to read this fantastic front-page story in the New York Times this morning about the growing backlash against mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
The story, which features a great quote from FAMM Vice President and General Counsel Mary Price, focuses on the case of FAMM member Stephanie George, a nonviolent drug offender serving a life sentence. I have written about Stephanie’s case before, but the New York Times reporter was able to interview both Stephanie and Judge Vinson, the judge who was forced by a federal mandatory minimum to sentence her to life.
You should read the entire article because it’s chock full of great facts, including one that destroys the argument that more people in prison make us safer. But I want to highlight one quote for you from Judge Vinson that appears in the piece because it so powerful. He said,
The punishment is supposed to fit the crime, but when a legislative body says this is going to be the sentence no matter what other factors there are, that’s draconian in every sense of the word. Mandatory sentences breed injustice.
Amen! (By the way, Judge Vinson is a conservative judge who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan.)
This great article was FAMM’s second appearance in the New York Times this week. On Sunday, the Times editorial page included this outstanding editorial about our recently published report on compassionate release.
Circulate today’s article to everyone. Knowledge is power and it brings change!
Thanks so much,
Julie
Julie Stewart
FAMM President