Jimmy Dee Stout was serving time on drug charges when he got grim news early last year. Doctors told Stout, now 62, the sharp pain and congestion in his chest
The First Step Act was meant to compassionately release people from federal prison who are terminally ill or aging and who pose little to no safety threat. But data shows that judges rejected more than 80 percent of requests.
Petitions for compassionate release soared in the pandemic, but federal judges denied most requests. This week officials will review guidelines aimed at freeing imprisoned people who pose no threat.