Introduction to USSC Amendment 821 Part A & B: Zero Point Offender / Status Points Reductions

Amendment 821

Policy Priorities: The Commission discussed and voted on the final policy priorities for the period of 2023-2024. These priorities would guide the Commission’s work in establishing sentencing policies and practices for federal courts. Retroactivity of Parts A and B of the 2023 Criminal History Amendment: A significant decision involved voting on the retroactivity of Parts

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Post-Chevron: The End of Sentencing Guidelines: A New Era for Justice

In their thought-provoking guest article in Law 360, “Post-Chevron, Good Riddance to the Sentencing Guidelines,” co-authors Mark Allenbaugh, Doug Passon, and Alan Ellis dive deep into the implications of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. This landmark case has effectively dismantled the long-standing Chevron doctrine, which traditionally granted deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes.

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Does Pulsifer pulverize sentencing reform?

The Supreme Court made a decision in Pulsifer v. United States that significantly narrowed the reach of the “safety valve” provision, which allows for reduced sentences in federal drug offenses, undermining recent efforts by Congress to mitigate the harshness of mandatory minimum sentences. The majority’s interpretation, as described by Justice Elena Kagan, restricts the eligibility

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