"A school website without pictures of pupils would appear very dry and seem unrealistic but if pupils are identified on a school website and contacted by outsiders the school could be held responsible for placing the child in potential danger, " the guidelines say.

BBC: The Payne family

The law was meant to alleviate the disparity in federal sentences, but critics say placing restrictions on judges can exacerbate the problem by rendering them powerless to deviate from guidelines and laws that are inherently biased.

WSJ: Wide Racial Divide in Sentencing