Sentencing Reform Act Precludes Lengthening Prison Sentence to Promote Rehabilitation

Justice Kagan delivered a very well written and reasoned opinion holding that a sentence may not be lengthened in order to promote a defendant's rehabilitation. Tapia faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 36 months imprisonment. Court rejected district court's reasoning that Tapia's sentence of 51 months (a term beyond that necessary for deterrence) was necessary for rehabilitation via the BOP's substance abuse treatment program. Tapia v. United States, No. 10-5400