Legislation

In May 2026, the Federal Defenders' Legislative Committee sent a letter to Congress in opposition to H.R. 2853, the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), which would amend several criminal statutes in an attempt to combat "organized retail crime."

In March 2026, the Federal Defenders' Legislative Committee sent a letter to Congress' Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to S. 545, the Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act. S. 545 would bypass the Controlled Substance Act's scheduling procedures by placing xylazine on Schedule III through legislation, without the FDA's medical and scientific analysis.

In May 2025, the Federal Defenders' Legislative Committee sent a letter to Congress' House Judiciary Committee in opposition to H.R. 3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025. H.R. 3486 would impose new, unprecedented mandatory minimum sentences on individuals whose criminal conduct includes the mere act of coming to the United States to make a better life for their families.

Defender witnesses submitted written testimony on additional proposed guideline amendments:  l

The Federal Public and Community Defenders have submitted our comments on all of the Sentencing Commission's proposed amendments for this amendment cycle. It turns out that we have a lot to say!

Defender witnesses submitted written testimony on many additional guideline amendments that are the subject of hearings to be held March 7-8, 2023 before the Sentencing Commission: criminal history, career offender, firearm offenses, circuit splits (acceptance of responsibility and controlled substance offense), legal changes brought by the First Step Act of 2018, and counterfeit pills.

Defender witnesses submitted written testimony on three proposed guideline amendments that are the subject of hearings to be held Feb. 23-24 before the Sentencing Commission, regarding compassionate release, sexual abuse of a ward, and acquitted conduct.

Federal Public and Community Defenders, by SRC Legislative Lead Patricia Richman, submitted remarks to BOP Director Collette Peters, for the BOP Listening Session.

The Brennan Center for Justice published The First Step Act’s Prison Reforms: Uneven Implementation and the Path Forward, by Ames C. Grawert (Brennan Center) and Patricia L. Richman (SRC).