Category: Blog

As part of the First Step Act (FSA) implementation, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is required to perform assessments on BOP inmates using the Department of Justice’s risk and needs assessment tool known as the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Need (PATTERN). The tool is designed to measure risk of recidivism of inmates.  […]

As part of the First Step Act (FSA) implementation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) system is required to perform assessments on all BOP inmates using the DOJ’s risk and needs assessment tool known as the Prisoner Assessment Tool targeting Estimated Risk and Need (PATTERN). The tool was released in […]

The CARES Act was signed into law recently to fight COVID-19, a disease caused by a novel coronavirus. Learn how this bill may help federal inmates.

President Trump granted pardons and commutations in February. Find out more about plans for the future of commutations and pardons here.

In United States vs. Hardwick, the Third Circuit remanded the denial of a FIRST STEP Act reduction to the district court.

In United States vs. Chew, the Ninth Circuit remanded a Fraud Sentence appeal to the District Court for an improper sentencing enhancement.

In United States vs. Maumau, 08-cr-00758, the District of Utah granted 3582 "Compassionate Release" Relief for a person who was imprisoned under an excessively long "Old Law" Pre-First Step Act 924(c) sentence.

The Smarter Sentencing Act, which has stalled several times before, is making its way through Congress. Learn more about the Smarter Sentencing Act here.

The criminal justice reform law known as the First Step Act has a number of changes to benefit inmates and a defense attorney will help.

A year later, taking a look at the First Step Act and how the provisions have made proactive change.