Right On Crime Applauds Recent Recommendations of the USSC on Supervised Release and Drug Sentencing

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Right On Crime applauds recent recommendations of the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) to address two issues in the criminal justice system: updating the supervised release system to make it more flexible and individualized; and addressing federal drug sentences.

Following comments submitted by Right On Crime and other organizations, the proposed amendments on supervised release follow that the current federal Sentencing Guidelines should provide courts with greater discretion to make determinations regarding the imposition of supervised release that are based on an individualized assessment of the defendant. This policy is also in line with the bipartisan Safer Supervision Act pending in Congress. 

“This amendment could give courts the ability to assess a wide range of factors to ensure its decisions fulfill the rehabilitative needs of the defendant and protect the public from further crimes of the defendant,” Rachel Wright, National Policy Director for Right On Crime “Public safety would not be jeopardized in making this smart reform.”

Also, at the recommendation of Right On Crime, the USSC is also looking to eliminate the unwarranted disparity related to purity in methamphetamine cases. Currently, there is a 10:1 disparity between pure and unpure methamphetamine.

“Current sentencing guidelines no longer make sense given how the drug is manufactured and imported, and overly punitive sentences are handed down routinely,” said Wright, National Policy Director for Right On Crime. “Eliminating this disparity will still keep our communities safe from meth abuse but won’t overincarcerate unnecessarily.”

Currently, the USSC sentencing guidelines rely heavily on drug type and quantity as a measure of culpability, which frequently results in sentences greater than necessary punish and deter. The proposed amendments work to ensure that drug trafficking sentences reflect culpability.

The USSC voted unanimously to publish the amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025. Official text of proposed amendments and issues for comment will also be published in a forthcoming edition of the Federal Register and will be placed on the Commission’s website.