How the PSR Affects Your Life After Prison
The PSR Doesn’t End With Your Sentence After release, probation officers will use the PSR to determine: Preparing for a Successful Reentry […]
How Judges Use the PSR to Decide Your Fate
The PSR is the Most Important Document in Sentencing The judge makes a final decision, but the PSR provides the foundation. Judges […]
Should You Cooperate? Making the Toughest Decision in Your Case
Cooperation sounds straightforward. Help the government, get a lighter federal prison sentence. That’s the message many defendants hear early in their case. […]
How the PSR Affects Your Entire Sentence
The PSR Determines More Than Just Your Sentence Length Many people assume the PSR is only for sentencing. In reality, it affects: […]
The Emotional Toll of Cooperation—What It Costs You Beyond the Courtroom
If you’ve read the earlier blogs in this series, you know that cooperation in a white-collar case can reduce your sentence—sometimes significantly. […]
When Cooperation Backfires—A Cautionary Tale from My Own Case
I’ve written a lot about the potential benefits of cooperation—how a well-prepared defendant can earn a 5K1.1 motion, reduce their sentence, and […]
The Pre-Sentence Report: The Document That Follows You
Why the Pre-Sentence Report Matters If you’re facing a federal sentencing, the pre-sentence report (PSR) is one of the most important documents […]
5K1.1 and Rule 35(b)—What Cooperation Actually Buys You at Sentencing
If you’ve been told that cooperation will “definitely” reduce your prison sentence, I encourage you to read this carefully to learn more […]
WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY HAD MY PROFFER AND DIDN’T PREPARE? HOW TO RECOVER BEFORE SENTENCING
Introduction You’ve already had your proffer session. You weren’t fully prepared. You might have undersold your role, gotten defensive, offered vague answers, […]
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PROFFER OR REVERSE PROFFER SESSION (WITHOUT HURTING YOUR CASE)
Whether you’ve been invited to a proffer or a reverse proffer, you’re entering an important conversation with the federal government. These meetings […]
Cooperation in a White Collar Crime—Why It’s Not Always a Straight Line to Leniency
When someone is under investigation for a white-collar crime, one of the first questions they often ask is : Should I cooperate? […]
WHAT IS A REVERSE PROFFER? UNDERSTANDING THIS STRATEGIC TOOL IN FEDERAL CASES
Introduction In our prior proffer articles, we’ve covered: Today, we’re going to explore a lesser-known but equally important legal tool: the reverse […]