News
Every article from the original site, at its original address. Case reports describe one court’s decision. Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case. Articles written before May 28, 2026, describe the law as it stood then; each one has a box with today’s rules.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Kevin Cooper's third compassionate release motion. Cancer, heart problems, and care delays were not enough without records of missing care or a terminal course.
In United States v. Ekene, the Fifth Circuit upheld a denial made without a video hearing and rested on the § 3553(a) factors alone.
In United States v. Jones, the Tenth Circuit treated attacks on a sentence and a gun conviction as a successive § 2255 and left them dismissed.
In United States v. Rizo, the Eleventh Circuit reversed a 2024 compassionate release reduction and ordered the 1997 sentence reinstated under Rutherford.
In United States v. Bell, the Fifth Circuit held that age 60, 33 years in custody and no write-ups were not extraordinary and compelling reasons.
U.S. Sentencing Commission data for Oct. 2025 through June 2026: courts granted 195 of 1,432 compassionate release motions, or 13.6%.
The BOP's new Program Statement 5050.51 drops the 18-month rule and some family categories. Here is what changed for families.
Fernandez v. United States holds that claims a conviction is invalid, including innocence-type arguments, are not extraordinary and compelling reasons.
In Rutherford v. United States, the Court held that a sentencing change Congress did not make retroactive cannot be an extraordinary and compelling reason.
In 2021, an Oklahoma federal judge reduced a man’s 894-month stacked sentence to time served, citing his rehabilitation and the sentence gap.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
In 2021, a Minnesota federal judge granted release to a 65-year-old man with diabetes and heart disease, under strict supervision terms.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A Connecticut federal judge released Joseph Reyes from a 300-month drug sentence, citing his rehabilitation, family support and COVID-19 risks.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A federal judge cut Estac Love’s 146-year sentence to 38 years in 2021 but denied immediate release, saying his rehabilitation was not yet strong enough.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
In 2021, a federal judge in Virginia granted compassionate release to Leonard Marshall, who had kidney disease and obesity, after 20 years in prison.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A Maryland federal judge cut a 57-year stacked gun sentence to time served after about 21 years, citing length and conduct.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
In 2021, an Ohio federal judge granted release to a man with aggressive lymphoma so he could get CAR T-cell therapy not available in prison.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A California federal judge freed a 66-year-old man with diabetes from FCI Lompoc, citing COVID-19 conditions and his release plan.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A federal judge in Missouri released Gregory Hill, 57, so he could get cancer treatment outside prison. Here is how the court weighed his case.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A federal judge in New York granted compassionate release to a man near the end of his sentence so he could attend his son’s funeral.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
A federal judge in Massachusetts reduced Alfred Trenkler’s sentence to 41 years after he had served 28 years for a 1991 bombing. Here is why.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
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