FAMM urges AG Barr to use new pending CARES Act provision to move federal prisoners into home confinement
I have not yet seen the exact language of the provision in the sure-to-pass federal CARES Act that expands the authority of the Justice Department and the Bureau of Prisons to move more persons from federal prison into home confinement. But I have seen this new press release from FAMM, which starts this way:
FAMM President Kevin Ring sent a letter today urging U.S. Attorney William Barr to immediately use his authority to release eligible people to home confinement as soon as the CARES Act becomes law. The CARES Act, which was passed by the Senate last night and is expected to be approved by the House and signed by the president, permits the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to lengthen the maximum amount of time that a prisoner may be placed in home confinement, if the U.S. Attorney General finds that emergency conditions will materially affect the functioning of the BOP.
“In order to prevent unnecessary deaths and suffering, the BOP needs to get as many people out of prison as it safely can and get them to home confinement immediately,” Ring said. “Congress is giving the attorney general the authority to make that happen. We urge the attorney general to act the moment this bill is signed into law. Lives are at stake.”
Ring said the use of home confinement would also ease the burden on halfway houses, in which movement has been restricted, employment opportunities have been halted, and people are confined in tight quarters. As with people in prison, halfway house residents cannot comply with CDC guidance regarding social distancing and good hygiene.
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