Latest news with #WilliamMarshallIII
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Prisoners Set Back By Bureau Of Prisons Home Confinement 'Expansion'
Newly appointed Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall III wrapped himself in the Trump flag by announcing an expansion of use of home confinement to allow prisoners more time in the community at the end of their prison sentence. Unfortunately, for many in prison the actions by the BOP will lead to longer stays in institutions, which is both more costly and a blow to those trying to get home sooner. The BOP issued a press release on May 28, 2025 touting, 'Federal Bureau of Prisons Issues Directive to Expand Home Confinement, Advance First Step Act.' However, a closer look reveals that this move neither expands home confinement nor advances First Step Act. When Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, advocates, prisoners and criminal justice reform groups all touted it as a major victory. The law was meant to both reduce the sentences for non-violent prisoners, many of whom are first time offenders, by up to a year and also give them the opportunity to serve more of their sentence under strict conditions in the community. However, the BOP has had a difficult time implementing this law under multiple directors since becoming law. It took over three years for the Department of Justice and BOP to finalize the Final Rule for First Step Act. During that time, thousands of inmates stayed in prison hoping they would receive credits to reduce their sentence. From January 2022 until now, the BOP has taken different positions on the law, leading some to get out of prison too late while others enjoyed the additional credits and were released earlier than anticipated. The BOP initially implemented the First Step Act by capping the credits through a rule that stated no credits could be earned within 6 months of release. BOP then issued a memorandum in March 2025 limiting the amount of halfway house placement for federal inmates from 12 months to 2 months, something central to the Second Chance Act, another hallmark piece of criminal justice reform. Both of these actions were rescinded after outcry from advocacy groups. In September 2024, the BOP implemented a new calculator to anticipate the effects of the First Step Act after other iterations of the calculator proved to be an inaccurate tool. The result was a predictive report that every inmate was given that provided them with a projected date for leaving the institution to live in the community and a release date from BOP custody. The reaction to those in custody and their families was immediate joy, however, that was short lived. The reports reflected 'stacking' the practice of showing the inmate both all of their First Step Act credits and the maximum amount of prerelease custody (12 months) under the Second Chance Act. To date, few inmates ever received the full compliments of these credits and the recent memorandum from Director Marshall upends 'Stacking.' Many people want to know what the new memorandum means and the BOP provided a statement clarifying their rule. When asked whether inmates are still eligible for Second Chance Act placement up to 12 months prior to their FSA conditional placement date, as has been the case, the BOP responded, 'Due to statutory restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(1), an individual who has earned 365 days (12 months) of First Step Act credits to be applied to prerelease custody cannot receive additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act.' The BOP's current stance contradicts its position from just a few months ago, when it stated that stacking First Step Act and Second Chance Act benefits was permissible. Now, without addressing its previous position, the BOP asserts that home confinement under the Second Chance Act is only allowed by law during the final 12 months of a prison sentence. Additionally, the BOP claims that home confinement under the First Step Act can only be applied when the First Step Act time credits earned are equal to the remaining length of the prison term. This means an inmate cannot apply First Step Act credits to home confinement while also receiving up to 12 months of prerelease custody (6 months in a halfway house and 6 months in home confinement) under the Second Chance Act. For many inmates, this change means they will have to remain in prison for up to a year longer than they had initially expected. The BOP's statement went on to say, 'For individuals eligible under the First Step Act (18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)), and who are projected to earn at least 365 days (12 months) of time credits for prerelease custody, referrals should be based on credits and the corresponding First Step Act Conditional Placement Date. There is no restriction concerning how many credits may be applied toward home confinement.' Those who earn a year off of their sentence and another year toward home confinement will not receive any Second Chance Act, meaning they will serve a year in a prison that could have been spent in the community. Former BOP Director Colette Peters (fired on January 20, 2025 by Trump), stated in a congressional hearing last year that capacity at BOP halfway houses was capped out. She stated at the time, "So this [halfway house capacity] is almost as significant of a problem as our recruitment and retention crisis and our infrastructure crisis, because as you're aware ... now under the First Step Act, they could spend months or years, and so that has created a substantial backlog in our residential reentry center.' In December 2018, when the First Step Act was signed into law, the residential reentry centers (or halfway houses) had a capacity of 10,500 beds. At that time, it was understood that the law would increase the number of people placed in prerelease custody. However, as of today, the capacity of halfway houses remains largely the same. As a result, those who are eligible for First Step Act credits, which would allow them to return home sooner, now find themselves competing for limited bed space with individuals who have been incarcerated for decades and rely on halfway house resources to reintegrate into society. The intent of the new memorandum was to redirect individuals who do not require halfway house services to home confinement. However, the outcome may be that fewer people are able to leave prison, and those who could have served part of their sentence in the community will end up remaining in prison for a longer period. In his press release about the expansion of halfway house use, Director Marshall said, 'President Trump said he would fight for the forgotten men and women of this country, and the First Step Act proved he meant it. Now, we are ensuring that this reform continues to work—not just as a policy, but as a promise to Americans seeking redemption and a path forward.' This new directive seems counter to Trump's promise.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Howard County Police to share update on deadly shooting of teen in Columbia Mall
Howard County Police and U.S. Marshall's are announcing an update in the investigation of a shooting that happened inside The Mall in Columbia last year that left a teen dead. Last summer, police said William Marshall III, 17, of Columbia was wanted for first-degree murder, and related charges in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Angelo Little on July 27. The shooting happened after an altercation near the mall's food court, police said. Marshall, who also goes by "Junior", specifically targeted Little, according to police. Police issue warrant for teen suspect's arrest After the shooting, police circulated a picture of Marshall, asking the public to help aid in the search. Maryland law typically does not allow the release of a juvenile suspect's identification, even when charged; however, exceptions are made in cases where public safety is at risk. In addition to the picture, police also released a video showing Marshall running through several corridors of the mall, including the housekeeping hallway. Police said Marshall was a student at Oakland Mills High School but had not attended school in 2024. Mother grieves loss of 17-year-old Angelo Little After the shooting, Charell Wilson, Angelo's mother, detailed the moment when she learned that her son had been tragically gunned down. "It was like a bad dream I'll never wake up from," Wilson told WJZ. Wilson recalled her last conversation with her son before he left for the mall. She told him to put together a list of things he needed for the start of school. He was preparing to begin his senior year at the Homewood Center in Ellicott City. Wilson said she remembered her son as a "gentle giant" with dreams of becoming a chef. Little loved cooking and would often invite friends over to taste test his creations, she said. She also told WJZ that she was not expecting to lose her son to gun violence in Columbia. Columbia struggles with rise in youth violence Howard County Police data shows a rising trend in homicides. There were five homicides in 2023, and nine in 2024. In Oct. 2024, a 17-year-old student at Howard High School was arrested at school with a loaded firearm in his backpack. He was later charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 26-year-old Kendrick McLellan, whose body was found in a vehicle behind a Columbia office complex. On Feb. 22, 2025, another shooting near the Mall in Columbia left two teens dead. Michael Roberston, 16, was shot and killed around 5:52 p.m. A 15-year-old teen was hospitalized after the shooting and died days later. Roberston was a sophomore at Wilde Lake High School, while the other teen victim was a freshman attending Oakland Mills High School. Police arrested 18-year-old Emmetson Zeah in connection with the incident, charging him with murder. At the time, Zeah was already facing charges for a previous attempted murder and had violated the terms of his home detention. In January, a 17-year-old was fatally shot during an attempted robbery in Columbia. Four suspects, including three teens, were charged in that incident. In April, County Executive Calvin Ball announced the Youth Engagement Strategies Council (YES), aimed at youth engagement and violence prevention.
