LPP Applauds U.S. Sentencing Commission on Guideline Reforms Leading to Over 4,800 Drug Trafficking Sentences Reduced
The U.S. Sentencing Commission's recent data confirms a significant impact on federal sentencing, with over 4,800 drug trafficking sentences reduced due to retroactive applications of Amendments 821 Part A and Part B. These guideline adjustments are not only numbers on paper but represent lives changed, giving hope to thousands of individuals who have endured excessively harsh sentences under outdated guidelines.
The Commission's two-part reform—both amendments effective as of November 2023—addresses issues related to criminal history points in distinct ways:
- Part A: Focused on reducing “status points,” which add to the criminal history score if someone was under any criminal justice sentence at the time of the offense. With this change, over 2,200 people had their sentences reduced.
- Part B: Applied a two-level downward adjustment for those with zero criminal history points. This amendment brought relief to more than 2,600 additional individuals with low-level offenses, reflecting a fairer approach toward individuals without a prior criminal record.
In practical terms, these amendments acknowledge the importance of individualized sentencing by recognizing that a history of minor offenses or even prior cannabis convictions should not result in lengthy incarcerations. Last Prisoner Project (LPP) has long championed these reforms, advocating for those unjustly sentenced under the harsh legacies of the war on drugs. In fact, when the U.S. Sentencing Commission invited public comments on these changes, LPP was among the voices calling for leniency in cannabis-related cases.
One of our own constituents, Clarence Adams, experienced the tangible impact of these changes firsthand. After filing for a reduction, Clarence saw his sentence reduced by a year, moving his release date up to February 2026. Yet, our work for his full freedom continues. His story is one of thousands—showing how unjust enhancements have extended sentences far beyond reason.
These sentencing changes reflect a shift toward fairness, but there is still more to be done. The Last Prisoner Project urges President Biden to exercise his clemency power to free Clarence and others still incarcerated for cannabis offenses. Through our #Countdown4Clemency campaign, we’re calling on the President to grant immediate clemency, correcting the wrongs of outdated drug policies with the stroke of a pen.
For more on these amendments and their impact, read the full U.S. Sentencing Commission report here. Join us in our fight for full freedom for all cannabis prisoners—because a reduced sentence is just the beginning.
