Category: Blog

The FIRST STEP Act makes changes to the way that “good time” is assessed by the Bureau of Prisons, retroactively applies the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Reauthorizes the Second Chance Act, allows inmates to petition the court for compassionate release, bans the shackling of women during child birth, adds “sunlight” provisions to parts of these bills and several other things. This explainer will discuss a majority of portions of the Act.

The piece of legislation known as the FIRST STEP ACT has passed both the House and Senate.

In United States vs. Lewis, 17-7033, the Tenth Circuit offered guidance on how to apply Mathis to a Johnson Claim

In United States vs. Qunitero,  No. 17-20727 the Fifth Circuit held that an error in the sentencing guidelines could meet the plain error analysis. Quintero pled guilty to illegally re-entering the U.S. He wasoriginally scheduled for sentencing under the 2015 Guidelines, but was delayedto December after the 2016 Guidelines Manual had gone into effect. Quintero […]

In United States vs Desmond Camp, Sixth Circuit held that a Hobbs Act Robbery was not a proper enhancement for Career Offender.

In the Wake of Dimaya, Congress Creates a Sweeping Definition of a “Crime of Violence” A recent op-ed in the New York Times characterizes the ideology of “America First” as having three pillars – isolationism, protectionism, and restricting immigration. The third pillar is on full display in Congress’s new bill in response to the United […]

SIXTH CIRCUIT FINDS CORRECTED SENTENCE ILLEGAL AND UNREASONABLE United States vs. Nichols, No. 17-5580 Nichols was convicted for felon in possession of a firearm in 2004. While the maximum for that offense is ten years imprisonment, he was enhanced under the Armed Career Criminal Act and received a sentence of 288 months. While in prison, […]

Collins vs. Virginia, 584 U. S. ____ (2018), No. 16–1027. The Supreme Court handed down an important search and seizure case in Collins.   Officers from the Albemarle County Police Department observed the same motorcycle driver commit a traffic infraction in two separate incidents.  In both situations, the cyclist got away from the officers. In both […]

The petitioners in Koons v. United States had committed crimes that invoked the use of the mandatory minimums. through the guideline ranges.

The Sentencing Reform Act requires a district court to calculate and consider a defendant’s Guidelines range in every case. Hughes v. United States, No. 17–155, 584 U. S. ____ (2018)   Eric Hughes accepted a plea deal in 2013 after being accused of four charges related to drug conspiracy. He pled guilty to conspiracy to […]