How to avoid federal mandatory minimum sentence with 2018 First Step Act.

The First Step Act (P.L. 115-391) was signed into law by the President on December 21, 2018. The Act deals mostly with reentry of the incarcerated, directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to take specific actions regarding programming, good-time credit, and compassionate release, among other issues. The Act does not
contain any directives to the Commission.

Related to its sentencing reform provisions (Title IV), the Act makes important changes to mandatory minimum penalties and to the safety valve provision (a provision that allows courts to sentence a defendant without regard to the mandatory minimum).

Under the new provisions, the defendant will qualify for safety valve only if:

The defendant does not have:
(A) more than four criminal history points, excluding any criminal history points resulting from a 1-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines;
(B) a prior 3-point offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines; and
(C) a prior 2-point violent offense, as determined under the sentencing guidelines.

For more information review:
https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/training/newsletters/2019-special_FIRST-STEP-Act.pdf

https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/20190222_R41326_05723582fa2dc28ac08c814021191576f0185add.pdf

Anton Vialtsin, Esq.
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