Originally published April 6, 2021. Statements about the law were updated in October 2026; the box below gives today’s rules.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
In April 2021, a federal judge reduced Scott Tran’s sentence to time served and granted him immediate compassionate release. A stroke had left him struggling to care for himself, and he was not getting the therapy he needed in prison.
His request
Represented by Criminal Center, Scott Tran asked for compassionate release mainly because of a stroke he had in November 2019. He also pointed to his higher risk of severe COVID-19 because of the stroke.
The stroke limited his ability to care for himself, and he said he had not received the therapy he needed for his impaired movement. His existing kidney disease was another serious concern. Severe COVID-19 can cause sudden kidney damage, and existing kidney disease can make COVID-19 outcomes worse.
His health in prison
Because of the stroke, Tran walks slowly and uses a walker or wheelchair. He even had to ask permission to wear soft shoes because regular boots were too heavy for him to walk in. He said he needed physical and occupational therapy that simply was not available in prison.
Why the judge said yes
Tran was not scheduled for release until September 2023. But the court noted that he had served well over half of his 110-month sentence. His offense, while certainly serious, was completely non-violent. It was driven by a gambling addiction that the court was convinced Tran had recognized and dealt with, and must keep dealing with under the special conditions of his supervised release.
Because of all these circumstances, the court reduced Tran’s sentence to time served, granting him immediate compassionate release.
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