White Collar Advice Blog
BOP Memo June 2025-2026: Why More People Are Going Directly to Home Confinement—and How the Release Plan Tips the Scale
The June 2025 Bureau of Prisons memo makes one thing clear: if you qualify under the First Step Act (FSA) and/or the
Sentencing Mitigation: The 3-Step Plan That Can Reduce Your Federal Prison Sentence | Chapter 6
What Is a Sentencing Mitigation Plan? In this chapter, I discuss how a sentence-mitigation plan helps judges see the person behind the
Federal Prison Preparation: Complete Guide from Sentencing to Release
Federal prison preparation means taking deliberate steps to minimize your sentence, prepare for incarceration, and position yourself for success during and after
Federal Prison Self-Surrender: Complete Checklist
Federal prison self-surrender means reporting to your designated facility on the date ordered by the judge and United States Marshalls rather than
The Purple Cow: What Matt Bowyer Did After the Raid | Chapter 10
“I never saw a Purple Cow, I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I’d rather see than
Good Conduct Time Credit: How 54 Days Per Year Cuts Your Federal Sentence
Article 9 of 31 | Series: Federal Sentencing & the Sentence Calculator When I arrived at Taft Federal Prison Camp in April
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.