FAMM: Families Against Mandatory Minimums
Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1991 by Julie Stewart, a former flight attendant and public affairs director at Cato Institute. The organization was started in order to fight for sentencing laws that fit the particular crime and individual. Julie Stewart's brother was sentenced to five years in a federal prison for growing Marijuana in his garage. Although the Judge felt the punishment was too harsh, the mandatory minimum policy gave him no choice. The co-defendants of Stewart's brother were only given probation for turning him in. This is because the only way to reduce a mandatory minimum sentence is by substantially assisting the government in prosecuting other offenders.
FAMM has become a national voice for fair and equal sentencing laws. FAMM invisions a nation that has sentencing laws that are individualized, humane and sufficient. There are currently 12,000 members of FAMM. Members include prisoners and their families, attorneys, judges, criminal justice experts and concerned citizens.
In 1994, FAMM lobbied for the passage of the "safety valve". This was to give federal judges the right to reduce the sentences of the non-violent, first-time drug offenders. Every year since 1994 5,000 offenders have received sentence reductions.
In 1998, FAMM changed Michigan's harsh 650 lifer drug law, allowing for parole. This also applied to those already incarcerated.
In 2003, FAMM led a campaign that changed the remaining Michigan's laws that pertained to the mandatory drug sentences.
This year the United States Sentencing Commissions approved guideline changes to federal crack cocaine penalties. This is the first time in twelve years that this has happened. The amendment affects approximately seventy eight percent of defendants that were convicted of crack cocaine offenses. This reduces their sentence by an average of sixteen months. The amendment was sent to Congress on May 1, 2007. Congress has until November 1, 2007 to consider the amendment before it automatically takes affect. In order to stop the amendment the Congress would have to pass bills in both the House and the Senate, which is unlikely to happen this year. The amendment will not affect people who were sentenced before November 1, 2007.
FAMM has been a part of state based campaigns in Massachusetts, New York and Michigan. The organization plans to expand into additional states to continue the fight against mandatory sentencing laws. Stewart refers to reform at the federal level as their ultimate prize.
Published by Cristina Olvera
I have had a passion for reading and writing since I was a child. My topics of choice include anything health-related and when I m not writing I love spending time with my family and friends. View profile
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- The Mandatory Minimum sentencing law was enacted in 1986.
- FAMM has become a national voice for fair and equal sentencing laws.
- Stewart refers to reform at the federal level as their ultimate prize.
9 Comments
Post a CommentI have never seen such unfairness in my life, the federal prison system is by far the worst.. Something has to been done about this.. My boyfriend has been in prison for 13 years now on a 27 year sentence for dealing crack cocaine... At the time he was caught he was not dealing, but was convicted soley on the words of others and there testimony, no evidence at all, he had already stopped and made a bad decision the help a friend, whom was already under investigation, so he was caught up basicley..When he left he left behind 3 young kids and a wife... and this harsh sentencing had destroyed his family.. I'm not saying that he should not pay for his past but 27 years for a first time offense is way to much... I will do what ever i can to help turn these laws around this is inhumane to say the least.
My son in law has just been sent away for 20 yrs for dealing crack/coke, I'm not sure which. He has had a prior conviction which he spent 5 years. He had nothing on him whem the drug task force pulled him over. They say they have him on audio. He cooperated with the feds in every which way they wanted. All deals they told him he would get went right the window. They wanted to give him life. The man they really wanted which is a white man only got 11 yrs. I just read in our states newspaper today about this foundation. My son in law is a black man married into a white family. My daughter and him have two small childern which they will be in their early twenties wen he gets out.If he gets out alive, he has health issues which were he is at they are not giving him his medications properly and now he is having some health issues due to this. I know my son in law should receive some punishment but not 20 yrs. He was told he couldnt even appeal his conviction. I will and will continue to let
Won't you please sign my petition along the same lines!http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/TimeServed.
Thanks!
I totally disagree with the drug sentencing guide lines in the federal courts for crack-cocaine.They're to harsh and inhumane. A murder, rapist and/or child molester get less time and are giving a second chance, to rehabilitate but most of the come back into society to harm someone else. Where as a non violent drug dealer has almost his hold life taken from him upon sentencing, that like saying there's no hope for rehabilitation for them.Now how crazy is that.
WE need God fearing people to work our system. I disagree with feds. But u know man think they r God now and they can sit high and look low.
ITS FUNNY, THAT I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE(ITS A BLESSING) I AM AGAINST THE MANDO MIN .ITS CRAZY.. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE STATES.. THE FEDERAL SYSTEM SPENDS SO MUCH TIME CONVICTING (PRIOR) CRIMINALS WITH CHARGES THAT DOESNT HAVE ANY RELATIONS TO(MURDER) 15YRS(YEAH) FOR A FIRE ARM THAT DIDNT EVEN WORK.GUILTY OF HAVING PAST CONVICTIONS! (BUT SERVED HIS TIME...WHY ENHANCE A CHARGE(THAT THE STATE WOULD OF THROWED IT OUT..(THE SYSTEM)ITS SO TRICKY..THEY DONT PLAY BY THE RULES.(WHAT IF HE WAS RICH?YEAH, THE SENTENCING IS CRAZY.(TO MUCH TIME, AND IN MOST CASE THE ACCUSED PROBLY NEVER EVEN MURDERD ANYONE!!!!!! IT HAS TO STOP
i also disagree i think the feds are so corrupt and don't care about destroying lives i know for a fact that there very capable of offering less time to those who are willing to cooperate and there even more capable of making those people into liars making them say exactly what they want them to say even when it's not the truth because know in days all they need is a few people that can't take there own responsability and will point the finger at who they and the feds want to and ''that's it'' no evidence just word of the mouth and u get 17yrs or 20 just like that, not caring that the ones that are cooperating have PRIOR records AND are the real menace to society and they just finished destroying a FIRST time offenders life with no remorse and to top it off these law makers are actually debating whether to bring back FEDERAL parole for FIRST time offenders?????what kind of world do we live in!!! but yet these cooperating indivduals with PRIOR RECORDS BECAUSE 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES THEY HAVE
I don't agree with it either...especially getting reduced sentences for turning someone in.
I totally disagree with mandatory minimums. I also disagree strongly with getting reduced sentences for turning someone in or pleading guilty.