Preparation for Federal Prison

As attorneys, we work hard and long for clients to get an acquittal or the least amount of prison time in federal cases.  When prison becomes a reality, defendants now have a whole new set of questions before them and their family.  While attorneys cannot possibly know everything about the prison experience, there are some…

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Domestic violence victims as perpetrators

In our society, violence is not tolerated with a few exceptions. These usually involve the protection of life.  In such instances, not only is violence accepted but can be cause for adoration.  The defender is oftentimes considered a hero.  However, a survivor of domestic violence who engages in self-defense against an abuser is never a…

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Stacking and multiple 18 USC Section 924(c) counts

The issue – whether a pre-2018 sentence on a valid 924(c) charge may be changed where a separate 924(c) count is invalidated – is currently pending in many appeals before the Third Circuit.  Iin United States v. White, No. 10-420-1, 2024 WL 3032891, at *2 (E.D. Pa. June 17, 2024) the district court determined that plenary…

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BOP CHANGES TO HOME CONFINEMENT

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) released a memorandum on May 28, 2025 stating that they are expanding home confinement.  It is not an expansion per se, but it is a good start to necessary changes avoiding mass incarceration. Under the First Step Act, inmates can earn up to 365 days off their sentence by participating in…

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United Sentencing Commission 2025 Guideline Amendments

Due to be become effective on November 1, 2025.  However, if you or a family member are due to be sentenced before November, kindly contact our office for assistance. To answer one frequent question before diving in: the Commission seems to have decided not to take up many of the proposed amendments, including career offender…

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Changes for the BOP January 2025

With the new administration in office, there are changes for the Bureau of Prisons. As confirmation of Pam Bondi as Attorney General looks, many adjustments are coming that will make a great impact for the agency. Director Peters Steps Down Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters announced her resignation on Monday, January 20, paving…

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President Biden pardoned his son; but what does that mean?

This morning in their online news, The New York Time reports that “Biden pardoned his son Hunter last night, brushing away two federal convictions and granting his son clemency for any wrongdoing over the past decade. “  The term “brushing away two federal convictions” makes it seem as if Hunter Biden no longer has those convictions on…

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BOP’s Updates to First Step Act Calculations

With a new administration coming in January 2025, significant changes are expected at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). One area of focus is the revival of the death penalty, a stark contrast to the moratorium imposed during Biden’s presidency. Trump is expected to push for executions to resume swiftly. The 2018 First Step Act, designed…

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