Federal drug penalties that are issued, based on the charges made against many in the state of Florida, may see themselves being released from prison due to a roll-back in punishment. Two people are included in this release. The father and son duo have been in prison for 22 years for transporting five kilos of cocaine to Tampa, Florida.
It was their first conviction and nether had any type of disciplinary action against them while they have been incarcerated. Their family is thrilled beyond belief that they will be let go. The family states that they look forward to spending time with the pair, especially their father because he is in his 80s and may not have that long to live.
There are literally thousands who will be released all over the United States. The initiative is called “Smart on Crime” and has been issued from the U. S. Justice Department and has the support of both the Democrats and Republicans in government.
The first round of releases will occur on Nov. 1, 2015, with others to follow. Along with the release, the penalties for new drug offenses are going down so that the prisons aren’t so full of people who have minor drug charges.
Not only is this the right thing to do, it is also fiscally responsible. It will save taxpayers in Florida a minimum of $21 million. A total of 8,341 months or 695 years, have been shaved off of prison terms in the Middle District of Florida alone.
If you are facing drug charges, you will need to do your research. Many times, if you can get a knowledgeable attorney involved early, you may be able to get your charges mitigated or even lowered with this new law coming into effect.
Source: The Tampa Tribune, “Rollback means drug offenders get early release,” Elaine Silvestrini, Aug. 23, 2015