February 10, 2005 -- Federal Boot Camps Closing:
On January 5, 2005, an email memo was sent to all Bureau Facilities by the BOP Director regarding the closing of all the Bureau's ICC programs (Boot Camp) by June 28, 2005. The closing affects the ICC's at Lompoc, CA, Lewisburg, PA, and the women's program at Bryan, TX. All three institutions will be "re-commissioned" as minimum security federal prison camps.

Understanding Booker and Fanfan:
Federal sentencing guidelines are advisory, but mandatory minimum sentences still stand:

On January 12, 2005, in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal sentencing guidelines are in part unconstitutional because they direct judges to increase sentences based on facts not found by a jury. The court fixed the problem by removing the part of the law that tells judges they must use the guidelines to impose sentences. The courts must now consider, but are not bound to impose, a sentence according to the guidelines. The sentencing guidelines are now advisory-but mandatory minimum sentences are NOT affected by this ruling.

Changes to Federal Half-Way House Policy:
Federal 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on September 3, 2004, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) interpretation of 18 USC 3621(b) limiting CCC placement to 10% or the last 6 months of a sentence is incorrect. The Court held the, “BOP is authorized to transfer prisoners to CCC’s at any time during their prison term.” CCC (Community Corrections Center) is commonly referred to as a halfway house.

BOP Good Time Credit Incorrect:
Federal Good Time Victory In Wisconsin: - On April 23, 2004, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that under 18 USC 3624(b) a federal prisoner is eligible for 54 days of good time credit each year, instead of the Federal Bureau of Prisons interpretation of 47 days.

For further information, please view our web site at www.FederalPrisonConsultants.com or call us toll-free at 800.431.6258.

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