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ACTION ALERT! FedCURE's Contact Congress Campaign: BARBER Amemdment Good Time Bill


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01 January 2015 [Updated]

 

FedCURE Action Alert

FedCURE's Federal Good Time Bill Campaign

"Top 10 Ideas for Change in America"

 
~ 113th Congress ~
 
National Call - to - Action ~ BARBER Amendment ~ Federal Good Time Bill  
|-|-| FedCURE Call-2-Action |-|-|
 
 
Ninety Percent (92%) Public Support for BARBER Amendment - Good Time Bill.
 
Come on everyone!  Pitch in and contact the 113th Congress.  We can do it!
 
"BARBER Amendment" on the "Good Time Bill"
 

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition

Sign the petition on FedCURE/CHANGE.org:  http://snipurl.com/1o7gdj

Support | Comment the Barber Amedment on FedCURE/POPVOX:  http://pvox.co/JaNx5Y



 
FedCURE NEWS Special Video Presentation: 
 
SECOND LOOK | The Sentencing Reform Act of 2011 
 

FedCURE Report: State of Reduction In Sentence Initiatives For Federal Offenders

Increased Good Conduct Time | Special Programming Credits | Elderly Release | Compassionate Release Program

Report Issued: 14 May 2012

NOTE: All of the bills discussed in the report died with the outgoing 112th Congress;
and will have to be reintroduced into the 113th Congress.

 
Hybrid system of Federal Parole and Good Time Allowances:
 

There are now two separate bills:
 
1.  A Hybrid System of Parole:   
FedCURE draft legislation is pending in Rep. Danny K. Davis' office.  FedCURE is also seeking Republican support. We will post more information as it becomes available.  Please do not clog up the FedCURE discussion group, blogs and or e-mails with redundant questions on the timing of introduction of this bill.
 
2.  FedCURE Contact Congress Campaign:  "Good Time Allowances" ~ H.R. 1475 ~ The Federal Prison Work Incentive Act.
 
~ December 2010 ~
 
National Call - to - Action on H.R. 1475  
 
Warmest Greetings & Merry*Christmas To All:
 
Ninety Percent (92%) Public Support for H.R. 1475.
 
Come on everyone!  Pitch in during these waning days of the 111th Congress.  We can do it!
 
"H.R. 1475" on the Christmas Tree "Good Time Bill"
 
Sign the petition on FedCURE/CHANGE.org:  http://snipurl.com/1o7gdj
 
Everyone!  Please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.  The Switchboard can direct you to your Congressional Representative and Senators.  Once you reach the office, you can use the talking points below or share your own story:
 
MESSAGE:
  •    I am calling to have you cosponsor H.R. 1475, The Federal Prison Work Incentive Act, because I am concerned that almost 211,000 people are "Endlessly" languishing in federal prisons in the U.S.  The average age is 38 years old. Most are serving long sentences, for a non-violent offense like marijuana; the majority of whom are first time offenders. There is no parole.
  •    H.R. 1475 ~ Federal Prison Work Incentive Act (Winner of the "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America for 2010") is a bill to restore the former system of good time allowances toward service of Federal prison terms, that would increase good time allowances from 54 days per year to 120 days per year.  H.R. 1475 allows the Federal Bureau of Prisons to maintain correctional worker staffing and help relieve overcrowding of prisons.  Just a 10% reduction in the federal prison population would save taxpayers $1.2 billion dollars per year and release 21,000 non-violent people from prison.
  •    Alternatively:  I urge you to introduce and pass the Barber Amendment.  To wit:
    Title 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3624(b)(1) is amended as follows: by striking the number "54" in the first sentence as it appears and inserting in lieu thereof the number "128"; and in the same sentence, by striking "prisoner's term of imprisonment" and inserting in lieu thereof "term of sentence imposed." This Amendment is retroactive. [END]. .
    Be Relentless:

FedCURE's H.R. 1475 Campaign: "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America"

Congratulations! It is Official:


FedCURE's Idea "H.R. 1475" is the Winner in the "Top 10 Ideas for Change in America" on Change.org.

Job Well Done! Stay Tuned!

Click on the VOTE Button to Learn More

FedCURE has put out a call for video interviews of people with cases that will benefit from H.R. 1475. 
Please contact FedCURE at:  http://www.fedcure.org/contact.shtml.


FedCURE Summary:  Hybrid System of Federal Parole and Good Time Allowances:

http://www.fedcure.org/documents/17102005-FedCURE-SUMMARY-FederalParole-FederalGoodTimeAllowances.pdf

FedCURE Talking Points:  A Hybrid System of Federal Parole:

http://www.fedcure.org/documents/17102005-FedCURE-HR3072-TalkingPoints-ReviveSystemOfParole.pdf


Background:

FedCURE's 100,000 Letter Writing Campaign

FedCURE's "100,000 Letter Writing Campaign" produced over 25,000 letters to the United States Sentencing Commission. Albeit, not 100k, we were heard loud and clear. Your letters worked. FedCURE was on the docket for the United States Sentencing Commission's public hearing, held in Washington, DC, on 17 March 2009 at 4:30pm. FedCURE strongly urged the Commission to adopt FedCURE's public comment to amend the Sentencing Guidelines to incorporate a hybrid system of parole and good time allowances.

Sadly, on 01 May 2009, the United States Sentencing Commission released its proposed amendments to the guidelines manual, effective 01 November 2009. See: http://www.ussc.gov/2009guid/20090501_Reader_Friendly_Amendments.pdf. You should be mortified to learn that there is not one word about "parole" or "good time allowances" throughout the 57 pages of amendments; and that there are no reductions in sentences, whatsoever, only increases.
 
To view FedCURE's Public Comment see:  http://www.fedcure.org/information/FedCURE-USSC-PriorityAmendmentCycleEnding-01May2009-f.pdf
To read FedCURE's Testimony to the United States Sentencing Commission by Dr. Kenny Linn, J.D., LL.M., see:  http://www.fedcure.org/documents/FedCURE-USSC-Testimony170309HrngKHL-070309.pdf
To read the USSC Letter to FedCURE of 26 March 2009, Confirming the Public Record see:  http://www.fedcure.org/documents/USSC-KHLFC-260309.pdf  
To view the orginal "Wrtie a Letter" see:  http://www.fedcure.org/information/FedCURE100kLetterWriting.shtml

Congress abandoned parole for all federal offenses committed after 01 November 1987.  FedCURE co-authored the last two federal parole bills in the 108th and 109th Congress, with Rep. Danny Davis (D-ILL) seeking to revive system of parole for all federal offenders.  This year FedCURE drafted a new federal parole bill for Rep. Davis and to float around to other members of Congress who may want introduce the bill in this Congress. The bill was titled as  The Criminal Justice Tax Relief Act of 2008 (CJTRA).  The CJTRA would establish a hybrid system if parole for all federal offenders. CJTRA is estimated to save the taxpayers 4 to 7 billion dollars annually and 80 to 140 billion dollars over a twenty-year period. 
 
On 11 September 2008, FedCURE attended a meeting in the office of Rep. Danny Davis, which lasted about two hours. In attendance were Rep. Davis' point person for two bills being considered, two ex-Wardens, another Congressperson, the Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel of the U. S. Parole Commission and members and lobbyists for a number of advocacy organizations. All together there were probably twenty or so people in the room. The good time bill will get a minor language tweak and should be ready for submission late next week or early the following week. Basically it restores the old law good time statutes that were repealed (Title 18 USC Sec. 4161-4166). If passed, it would shorten prison sentences measurably for everyone but lifers. We spoke with Rep. Davis one-on-one after the meeting to convince him to introduce the parole bill now as well to keep the momentum going. He has no objection to doing this, but will not introduce it at the same time with the good time bill. Time is short because the House is supposed to adjourn at the end of September. FedCURE will be pushing to get him and his staff member to finalize the parole bill and get it introduced, but there is no guarantee this will happen. We are moving along a lot slower than we would like, but that is the way Washington works and there is little we can do about it. All in all, we are pleased that these issues are front and center on Rep. Davis' agenda and we think we can see major support develop early next year.

On 06 May 2008, FedCURE had extensive meetings with Rep. Danny K Davis (D IL) and his key staffers.  The Criminal Justice Tax Relief Act of 2008 (CJTRA) authored by FedCURE has been changed in a couple of significant ways and will probably have a new name.   For now it is titled The Federal Release Revision Act of 2008.  Without going into detail (the devil is always in the details), suffice it to say that increased good time and parole review by the United States Parole Commission for those given over a certain length of sentence are the two focuses of this bill.  FedCURE is very happy at the outcome.   The proposed bill will still affect each and every inmate in some positive way. 

Rep. Davis has formed an advisory panel of a number of federal judges, a former Deputy Attorney General, a couple of post-conviction defense counsel, key Judiciary Committee staffers and representatives of the BOP, Parole Commission, Probation Services and other government agencies,  FedCURE is finishing up the rewrite and will be forwarding a copy back to Rep. Davis' staff for distribution of a highlighted talking points bulletin to the Advisory Panel.  The Panel is being asked for a twenty day turnaround for comments at which point another rewrite will doubtlessly take place before it is presented to House Counsel for their dissection  of the details to make sure they conform to whatever statutory changes would have to take place in the event that the bill passes.  All of this takes time and we are aware that time is of consequence.  Rest assured we are pushing as hard as we can to get this bill introduced as soon as possible.

On 20 April 2007 FedCURE met with the point person for Rep. Danny K. Davis of Illinois the main sponsor of last year's federal parole bill - H.R. 3072.   FedCURE also spent about one half hour with Rep. Davis.   Subsequently, FedCURE drafted a new bill titled: The Criminal Justice Tax Relief Act of 2008 (CJTRA), which will take a different focus. The CJTRA would establish a hybrid system of parole for all federal offenders. The bill is estimated to save the U.S. taxpayers $4 to $7 billion dollars annualy.

 
The CJTRA, would, inter alia:
  • Reinstate the old parole statutes and make amendments thereto.
  • Make all offenders eligible for parole.
  • Increase good time allowances.
  • Give jurisdiction to the United States Parole Commission to set release dates in accordance with applicable parole guidelines or the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, whichever is lowest. 
  • Provide for reduction in term of imprisonment of elderly offenders.
  • Clarify parole procedures. 
  • Provide post incarceration supervision.  
  • Apply prospectively and retroactively. 
  • Extend the life of the United States Parole Commission for twenty years.  

Federal Re-entry - The Second Chance Act of 2007 - Public Law No: 110-199:

 

The Second Chance Act of 2007 - was signed into law by President Bush on 09 April 2008.

The bill was introduced in the 110th Congress on 20 March 2007 as H.R. 1593.   Just a week after the re-introduction of the bill, 28 March 2007, members of the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 1593 out of committee.  During the mark-up of the bill, members voted down several amendments that would have jeopardized the bipartisan support for the bill.  Sen. Bidden introduced S. 1060, an identical bill, in the Senate on 29 March 2007.   On 02 August 2007 the Senate Judiciary Committee passed out the Second Chance Act.  Unanimously. The Second Chance Act passed in the Senate, late Tuesday night (11 March 2008) and awaits the signature of President Bush before it can become law. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 347 to 62 to pass the Second Chance Act on 13 November 2007. The bipartisan bill was passed by voice vote, last night, after the Senate adopted a concurrent resolution (H Con Res 270) that made minor changes to the Second Chance Act, including limiting the federal share of project costs for some reentry programs.

FedCURE called on President George Bush to sign the Second Chance Act in to law at his earliest convenience. During his State of the Union address in 2004, the president coined "America is the land of second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life." He announced a proposal that would make $300 million in grant money available over four years for prisoner reentry initiatives, including those involving faith-based groups. The President is to be thanked for getting the ball rolling.

The President signed the Second Chance Act on 09 April 2008 at the White House as Public Law No: 110-199.

For updates send an e-mail to:
FedCURE-org-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Gene Guerrero, Director of The Open Society Institute/Open Society Policy Center (SOROS) is the lead lobbying effort behind this legislation.

Congratulations to Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Ill., the lead sponsor of The Second Chance Act (H.R. 1593) and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del., the lead sponsor of a companion Senate measure S.1060.

 
13 November 2007

Congratulations America!  H.R. 1593 - The Second Chance Act, Passes the U.S. House 347 to 62.

 
Congratulations, each and every one of you, for your hard work and perserverieance in supporting H.R. 1593 - The Second Chance Act.  The Bill was passed by a roll call vote during the evening House Session today, 13 November 2007, @ 7:14 PM-EST.  The vote was 347 YEA and 62 NAY.  Onward to the great Senate!
 
America is the land of  second chance.  What a wonderful opportunity this is for America to become a model for all the world to follow.  A world of second chance.   Jonathan Harsch of Kimmitt Senter Coates & Weinfurter, Inc., reporting from DC on behalf of  FedCURE, sums it up best in his statement below:
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:11 PM
 
"We are proud see this truly bipartisan legislation pass the U.S. House of Representatives with such strong support. H.R. 1593 is a bill that benefits all Americans because it reinforces the fundamental fairness and moral foundation on which our system of justice was built."
 
Jonathan Harsch,
Kimmitt Senter Coates & Weinfurter, Inc.

http://kscw.com
 
Also, please find below a "Media Alert" and note of congratulations from the office of Rep. Danny K. Davis (ILL), the author of the bill.  Great job Danny!  That's why you get the big bucks.
 
Ps.  We would remind all that prisoner re-entry is among one of the President's initiatives.  The President, "We know from long experience that if they can't find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit crime and return to prison....America is the land of second chance ... "  This is truly a bipartisan bill.
 
Thank You All:
 
Mark A. Varca, J.D., CIO & Executive Director,
FedCURE

 
From the Office of Congressman Danny K. Davis (ILL)
 
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 7:32 PM
Subject: MEDIA ALERT: TOMORROW'S PRESS CONFERENCE

 
347 YEA AND 62 NAY

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE,

ON THE BEHALF OF DANNY K. DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND CONTINUED SUPPORT, IT PAID OFF!
 
Attached, please find the "Media Alert" for tomorrow's press conference. 

Regards,

Helen Mitchell, MPA
Director of Strategic Planning & Policy Development
Office of Congressman Danny K. Davis
2159 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5006
Fax: (202) 225-5641
www.house.gov/davis

 

The Second Chance Act of 2007 authorizes $192 million annually and would: 

  • Reauthorizes and makes improvements to existing State and local government offender reentry program.   The bill authorizes $50 million annually for the Department of Justice, State and local grant program, increasing authorization levels, incorporating best practices from the reentry field, and requiring the measuring and reporting of performance outcomes.
  • Authorizes new competitive grants for innovative programs to reduce recidivism.  The bill authorizes $130 million each year in grants for State and local governments and public and private entities to develop and implement comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs, academic and vocational education programs, and housing and job counseling programs, and mentoring for offenders who are approaching release and who have been released.  The bill requires grantees to establish performance goals and benchmarks and report performance outcomes to Congress.                    
  • Strengthens the Bureau of Prisons ability to provide reentry services to federal prisoners.  The bill authorizes funds to improve federal offender reentry services and to establish an elderly non-violent offender pilot program.
  • Authorizes grants for research and best practices.  The bill authorizes additional funds for research on innovative drug treatment methods, causes of recidivism, and methods to improve education and vocational training during incarceration and for the development of best practices. 

If you are interested in working with FedCURE or collaborating in some manner and would like to discuss this in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To learn more about the legislative process see below or here:  FedCURE's Educational links.
 

For day-to-day e-mail updates join FedCURE's Free Listserve and Discussion Group of over 2,000 subscribers:

To Subscribe, simply send an e-mail to: FedCURE-org-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Thereafter, to Post a message send to:
FedCURE-org@yahoogroups.com
To Unsubscribe send a e-mail to:
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To visit the site go to: 
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Please Donate and Join Now:  http://www.fedcure.org/join.shtml.

FedCURE
P.O. Box 15667
Plantation, Florida 33318-5667
USA

Web Site:  http://www.FedCURE.org    
E-mail:      
FedCURE@FedCURE.org

E-fax:           (408) 549-8935

"Using Technology to Bring About Federal Criminal Justice Reform"  tm
WWW.FEDCURE.ORG 2002-2007.  All rights reserved.

Please Donate and Join Now:  http://www.fedcure.org/join.shtml

Subscribe to our free discussion group e-mail: FedCURE-org-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


Original Alert: 27 June 2005

Federal Parole Information

H.R. 3072 Federal Parole Bill

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3072

A bill `To revive the system of parole for Federal prisoners, and for other purposes.'

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 27, 2005

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois introduced H.R. 3072; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Click Here for H.R. 3072 Details and Full Text

 

American Correctional Association (Supports Federal Parole)
Approved 8/16/2006:  
ACA Resolution on the Reinstatement of a System of Parole For Federal Prisoners


FedCURE Summary: Federal Parole/Federal Good Time Allowances

SUMMARY:  REVIVE THE SYSTEM OF PAROLE FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS AND INCREASE GOOD TIME ALLOWANCES FOR FEDERAL OFFENDERS.  (PDF)


FedCURE: Talking Points

TALKING POINTS:  To Revive the System of Parole For Federal Prisoners.  (PDF)




U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary - 110th Congress
 
  Democrat                 Republican
 
(D) Michigan, 14th
 
Hon. Berman
(D) California, 28th
 
Hon. Boucher
(D) Virginia, 9th
 
Hon. Nadler
(D) New York, 8th
 
Hon. Scott
(D) Virginia, 3rd
 
Hon. Watt
(D) North Carolina, 12th
 
Hon. Lofgren
(D) California, 16th
 
Hon. Jackson Lee
(D) Texas, 18th
 
Hon. Waters
(D) California, 35th
 
Hon. Meehan
(D) Massachusetts, 5th
 
Hon. Delahunt
(D) Massachusetts, 10th
 
Hon. Wexler
(D) Florida, 19th
 
Hon. Sᮣhez
(D) California, 39th
 
Hon. Cohen
(D) Tennessee, 9th
 
Hon. Johnson
(D) Georgia, 4th
 
Hon. Gutierrez
(D) Illinois, 4th
 
Hon. Sherman
(D) California, 27
 
Hon. Weiner
(D) New York, 9th
 
Hon. Schiff
(D) California, 29th
 
Hon. Davis
(D) Alabama , 7th
 
Hon. Wasserman Schultz
(D) Florida, 20th
 
Hon. Ellison
(D) Minnesota, 5th
 
Vacant
 
Hon. Smith
Ranking Member
(R) Texas, 21st
 
Hon. Sensenbrenner Jr.
(R) Wisconsin, 5th
 
Hon. Coble
(R) North Carolina, 6th
 
Hon. Gallegly
(R) California, 24th
 
Hon. Goodlatte
(R) Virginia, 6th
 
Hon. Chabot
(R) Ohio, 1st
 
Hon. Lungren
(R) California, 3rd
 
Hon. Cannon
(R) Utah, 3rd
 
Hon. Keller
(R) Florida, 8th
 
Hon. Issa
(R) California, 49th
 
Hon. Pence
(R) Indiana, 6th
 
Hon. Forbes
(R) Virginia, 4th
 
Hon. King
(R) Iowa, 5th
 
Hon. Feeney
(R) Florida, 24th
 
Hon. Franks
(R) Arizona, 2nd
 
Hon. Gohmert
(R) Texas, 1st
 
Hon. Jordan
(R) Ohio, 4th
 

 
 
 
   
               FedCURE Educational Links
 
 
 
The legislative process is explained.
How Our Laws Are Made
       A detailed text description of the legislative process.
The above document, broken down into chapters.
The full text of the Declaration of Independence.
A list of Early Congressional Documents from the Constitutional Convention
and the Continental Congress.
A list of titles of the 85 Federalist Papers.
The full text of the U.S. Constitution.
Foreword and Historical Notes. 

         
Introductory information about the U.S. Constitution, written by the Hon. Jack Brooks.
The full text of the Bill of Rights.
The full text amendments 11 through 27 to the Constitution that have been ratified.
The full text of amendments to the Constitution that have been proposed
but not ratified.
A century of lawmaking for a new nation.
From the Office of the Clerk of the House.
From the Library of Congress.