Rosales Law Firm

Get Legal Advice Today : 915-219-5516

  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Criminal Law
    • Family Law
    • Employment Law
  • About
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • Contact
Rosales Law Firm

Phone: 915-219-5516

  • Home
  • Practice Areas
    • Criminal Law
    • Family Law
    • Employment Law
  • About
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Blog
  • Contact

First Step Act could help thousands of inmates

| Nov 28, 2018 | criminal defense

The First Step Act is a criminal justice bill that could help reform prisons in Texas and across the United States. The bill is the first step in what many believe to be the beginning of prison reform and has been hailed by both the president and the American Civil Liberties Union. There are several components of the bill that could help thousands of individuals who are currently in prison.

The bill ends the disparity in prison sentences for those who were charged with using crack cocaine versus a powdered form of cocaine. Because many African Americans were charged with crack cocaine possession in the 1980s, this could help end some of the racial disparity seen in prison. The bill also gives judges the ability to exempt individuals from mandatory sentences during sentencing for those who have limited criminal histories.

The bill helps inmates transition back to life after their sentence is complete by encouraging rehabilitative and vocational programs. Participating in these programs will help inmates receive “earned time credits,” which could reduce their sentence time in prison with an early release to a halfway home or home confinement. Finally, the bill reinforces policies that are already in place, such as placing inmates in facilities that are less than 500 miles from their homes, allowing prisoners to earn a reduced sentence up to 54 days for good behavior and not shackling women during childbirth.

If the bill passes Congress, it has the potential to benefit thousands of individuals who are currently in prison as well as those who are currently awaiting a trial or sentencing. A criminal defense lawyer may be able to help an individual receive a reduced sentence for good behavior or for earning vocational credits while in prison. In the case of someone who entered into a vocational program, a lawyer might present the court with a record of the client’s good behavior and credits earned in the program in order to help their client be released early to their home or a halfway house.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Recent Posts

  • Getting your license back after DUI
  • How a DUI might negatively impact your life
  • How to let your children know about your divorce
  • Does Texas treat DWIs more harshly than other states?
  • Drunk driving during the holiday season

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015

Categories

  • blog
  • child support
  • criminal defense
  • Criminal Justice Reform
  • Discrimination
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drug Charges
  • Drug Crimes
  • Drunk Driving
  • drunk driving defense
  • DWI
  • Employment Lawyer
  • Expunction
  • Firm News
  • Juvenile Crimes
  • Misdemeanor Charges
  • Probation Violation
  • Property Crimes
  • Robbery
  • Workplace Discrimination
  • Wrongful Termination

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog's Feed

FindLaw Network

Tell Us Your Legal Issue

Office Location

1400 Montana Avenue
El Paso, TX 79902

Toll Free: 888-352-0467
Phone: 915-219-5516
Fax: 915-542-0878

Map & Directions
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
1400 Montana Avenue El Paso, TX 79902
Review Us

© 2021 Rosales Law Firm. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters