Michigan has joined a multi-state coalition in requesting the U.S. Congress Act to apply fair sentencing reforms to low-level drug offenses by clarifying the First Step Act.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that mid-level and high-level offenders could petition for resentencing, but low-level offenders were ineligible. The ruling pertains particularly to crack cocaine offenses.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “It is fundamentally unfair to allow for the resentencing of a high-level crack cocaine offender while not doing the same for a low-level offender.”
The First Step Act is part of a criminal justice reform act that recognized that crack cocaine dealers have been punished more harshly than powder cocaine dealers. Some offenders who were caught with relatively small quantities of crack are still in jail, where dealers of huge quantities of powder cocaine have had their sentences reduced..
Nessel went on to say, “In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, I am joining my colleagues in calling on Congress to clarify that the relief provided by the First Step Act applies to all individuals convicted of crack cocaine offenses.”
A full copy of the letter to Congress:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/ag/Terry_FSA_Amendment_Letter_Final_-_SIGNED_734460_7.pdf
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
