Fernandez v. United States · ¶62

Section 3582(c)(1)(A) of Title 18 of the U. S. Code—known as the compassionate-release statute—authorizes district courts to reduce federal prison sentences under specified circumstances. This case is about the scope of that authority. By its terms, the compassionate-release statute is fexible, permitting sentence reductions for “extraordinary and compelling reasons.” 18 U. S. C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). The breadth of this language is no accident: It refects Congress's intent to preserve some of the traditional discretion afforded to district courts to ensure just treatment of defendants in criminal cases.

preliminary print (page proof)
Source edition
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.