Walking into my sentencing hearing, I knew I had one final shot to speak directly to the judge. No lawyers, no prosecutors—just me.

Judge Mark Bennett has sentenced over 4,000 people. He made one thing clear in his interview:

“Your final statement can move a sentence down—but only if done right.”

That’s allocution. It’s the moment when a judge hears from the person they’re about to sentence. And yet, most defendants blow it.

I wasn’t going to be one of them.

What Most People Get Wrong

Judge Bennett said one of his biggest frustrations is when defendants don’t prepare for allocution. Some don’t say anything at all. Others make it worse by rambling about how hard this has been for them.

I get it. When you’re standing there, waiting for a judge to decide your fate, it’s easy to panic or default to an apology. But that’s not what a judge is looking for.

What I Said That Mattered

I worked with White Collar Advice to craft an allocution that wasn’t just another apology. Here’s what I focused on:

1️⃣ Taking ownership: I acknowledged my crime—without excuses. Judges can tell when someone is shifting blame. I didn’t do that.

2️⃣ Recognizing the harm: I didn’t just talk about how this affected me. I addressed how my actions hurt others and what I had learned from it.

3️⃣ Proving I had a plan: I outlined exactly how I would spend my time inside—what programs I would take, what books I would read, how I would prepare for my release.

Judge Bennett said something that stuck with me:

“A real plan for rehabilitation makes a difference. Saying ‘I want to be a drug counselor’ doesn’t mean much unless you show you’ve already taken steps.”

So, I didn’t just say I wanted to be better. I showed that I was already doing the work.

How It Changed My Sentence

The prosecutor wanted me to serve 60 months. The judge gave me 28 months instead. That difference wasn’t luck—it was preparation.

Had I walked into sentencing and just said, “I’m sorry, I’ve learned my lesson,” I doubt anything would have changed. Instead, I went in with a strategy—one that helped my judge see me as more than my charges.

Your Sentencing is Coming—Will You Be Ready?

Most people spend tens of thousands on legal fees but don’t spend a single hour preparing for allocution. I worked on mine for months, and it paid off.

If you’re facing sentencing, ask yourself: What will your judge actually hear from you? Will it help—or will it be just another forgettable speech?

Get ready now. Because once you’re standing in front of that judge, there are no do-overs.

Jason Greene