In order to adhere to the new sentencing guidelines in federal court, the New York Times reported that the Justice Department is preparing to release around 6,000 inmates from federal prisons beginning at the end of the month.

In April 2014, the United States Sentencing Commission reduced penalties for many nonviolent drug crimes, and it said that the guidelines should be applied retroactively to many prisoners. Under these guidelines, prisoners can ask federal judges to reassess their sentences, which are then considered after further examination of their behaviors in prison.

Attorney General Sally Yates said in a statement via Fox News, "Even with the Sentencing Commission's reductions, drug offenders will have served substantial prison sentences. Moreover, these reductions are not automatic. Under the Commission's directive, Federal judges are required to carefully consider public safety in deciding whether to reduce an inmate's sentence."

This effort is made to ease overcrowding issues and to roll back on the harsh penalties given to nonviolent drug dealers from the 1980s and 1990s.

About one-third of the total number to be released are undocumented immigrants who will have to face deportation, as many of them were convicted of "significant legal offenses".

This mass release is among the largest in American history, coinciding with the intensified bipartisan effort to lessen mass incarcerations from the last few decades of tough sentencing for drug offenses. Jesselyn McCurdy, senior legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union said that the announcement is nothing short of thrilling because it carries justice. Far too many people have lost years of their lives to draconian sentencing laws born of the failed drug war. People of color have had to bear the brunt of these misguided and cruel policies. We are overjoyed that some of the people so wronged will get their freedom back."

However, many praised the news of early releases there are those who are concerned, especially the law enforcement officials across the United States, who fear that the freed convicts might be unable to find jobs and go back to the life of crime.

Ronald E. Teachman, former police chief in South Bend, Ind, said that inmates were not always convicted of the crimes they committed and that prisoners can find jobs based on the job skills they received while in prison. However, "People come out of prison hardened and angry and more likely to offend," he added.

A spokesman for the Drug Policy Alliance, Anthony Papa, said about the more relaxed drug sentencing law, "It warms my heart to hear that 6,000 people will be coming home. The drug war has devastated families and communities and it is time for the healing to begin."