Supreme Court Ruling on Sentencing Guidelines Threatens to Return Freed Individuals to Prison

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has restricted the circumstances under which federal prisoners can receive compassionate release, potentially leading to the reincarceration of individuals who had already been freed. The 6-3 decision, in *Rutherford v. United States*, invalidated a 2023 policy by the U.S. Sentencing Commission that allowed judges to consider certain changes in sentencing laws for unusually long sentences, concluding the commission exceeded its authority. This ruling limits sentence reductions for those serving lengthy sentences under previous federal laws and raises questions about the First Step Act.