Barbara Dougan
Massachusetts Project Director of Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM).

Provided information on the difference between the CORI and sentencing reform bills passed in the House and the Senate.

FAMM is a non-partisan Washington, D.C. based sentencing reform organization that works to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences on the state and federal level.  On the federal level, FAMM has been one of the leading voices in the campaign to address the egregious racial disparities resulting from differing treatment of crack cocaine and powder cocaine under federal law and sentencing guidelines.  On the state level, FAMM has helped repeal draconian drug sentencing laws in many states, including Michigan, which had some of the harshest drug laws in the nation.  FAMM opened its Massachusetts office in 2008.

CORI reform has recently passed both the state Senate and the House. However, the two versions are not identical in their consideration of sentence reform. The Senate bill is a multi-issue bill that includes CORI reform, modest sentencing reforms for drug offenders (greater eligiblity for parole and at an earlier date, plus work release), and mandatory post-release supervision. The House bill focuses mainly on CORI.  JALSA urges members to call members of the Conference Committee supporting the Senate bill.

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