Federal Drug Sentence Reductions Nearly Complete in Dakotas

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Sixteen months after Congress ordered a retroactive review and reduction of federal drug sentences, officials in North Dakota and South Dakota are close to completing the task.

The amendment that became effective in November 2014 is meant to reduce overcrowding in federal prisons that currently house more than 200,000 offenders. Most of the reductions involved mandatory minimum sentences and were recalculated based on drug quantities.

Prosecutors and public defenders say South Dakota is down to a couple of cases remaining. There are about 40 left in North Dakota.

A U.S. Sentencing Commission report shows that North Dakota had decided on 182 applications and South Dakota had ruled on 152 motions through March 25. Reductions were granted in 99 percent of the North Dakota cases and 77 percent in South Dakota.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

See Also: