What Your Federal Sentencing Memorandum Cannot Do — And What Only You Can
Federal sentencing guidelines give you a starting point, not a final answer. The loss amount, offense level, and criminal history points frame […]
What Not to Say Your First Day in Federal Prison
When Judge Wilson sentenced me to 18 months, my first thought was that 18 months was a lifetime. I remember standing there […]
Federal Plea vs. Trial: What Defendants Get Wrong
Before You Plead Guilty, Read This: My Conversation with Defense Lawyer Stephen Lee If you are facing federal charges and deciding between […]
RDAP Program: How to Get Up to 1 Year Off Your Federal Sentence
Article 11 of 31 | Series: Federal Sentencing & the Sentence Calculator Of all the sentence reduction tools available to federal prisoners, […]
How to Show Remorse at Sentencing
The man had a polished letter, a pressed suit, and a speech he practiced in the mirror. Then he stood in federal […]
Federal Prison Security Levels: What Each Level Means for Your Case (2026)
The Bureau of Prisons operates five security levels for federal inmates: minimum, low, medium, high, and administrative. Your security level determines which […]
2026 Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amendments: What Federal Defendants Need to Know Now
A man I worked alongside last fall had been told by his attorney that his guideline range would land between 24 and […]
Lompoc Federal Prison Camp: What You Should Know Before You Report
By Matt Bowyer, who reported to Lompoc Federal Prison Camp in October, 2025 and was released in March, 2026. The morning I […]
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 […]