Musca Law Stuart

There were 145 offenders released in 2019 — about five times more than the year before, when 24 people were granted release, according to a report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Compassionate release, once seldom used, offers some federal inmates hope Petitions for compassionate release were rarely approved prior to the passing of the First Step Act in December 2018, which made it easier for offenders to bring the request to the court.