White Collar Advice Blog
Document or Be Defined: Build a Record the Court Can Trust
Judges and probation officers decide from what’s on paper. If your PSR, memo, and exhibits are thin—or late—you’ll be judged on a
Lessons from Matthew Bowyer’s Sentencing
I’ve been to more than 1,500 sentencing hearings since 2009, and I still get nervous at every one. Friday was no different.
How to Write a Federal Sentencing Narrative and Release Plan That Judges Respect
If you are in a federal case, the government already controls the story. Your only chance to influence probation, prosecutors, and the
Dignity In Prison: The Men I Admired
A New Morning Habit I’ve been testing myself to start each morning differently. For years, my habit was automatic: get up, head
5 Common Mistakes Defendants Make in Federal Investigations
The Most Common Mistakes Defendants Make in a Federal Investigation When federal agents show up, every choice you make matters. Most defendants
Hardest Part of Getting Out of Prison: Why Reentry Is Harder Than You Think
What’s the Hardest Part of Getting Out of Prison? It’s not the bars. It’s doing the work every day without knowing when—or
The White Collar Advice blog helps people under investigation or facing federal sentencing understand the system, avoid mistakes that lead to longer sentences or tougher prison placements, and prepare for prison and reentry.
People under federal investigation, facing sentencing, or preparing for prison who want to build a documented record that shows they are different from the government’s one-sided version of events. Family members who want to understand the process and help a loved one prepare should read it too.
Yes. The blog is based on the combined experience of our team at White Collar Advice, including my time in the system, Michael Santos’s 26 years in federal prison, and the work we’ve done with thousands of people going through investigations, sentencing, and reentry. Everything comes from what we’ve seen and documented over many years.
These blogs teach you how to create assets that do not currently exist to influence cynical stakeholders, like a Federal Judge or Probation Officer.