The Art of the Federal Plea Bargain
May 11, 2021
The vast majority of federal criminal cases are resolved pursuant to a plea agreement. Typically, the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence or dismissal of some charges....
See Full Guide
The Bill of Rights: What Do They Say About Criminal Justice?
May 11, 2021
The Bill of Rights constitute the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. They enumerate many of our most cherished civil liberties, such as free exercise of religion and freedom of speech. But what ...
See Full Guide
Understanding “Relevant Conduct” Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
May 06, 2021
"Relevant Conduct" is a complex set of rules and definitions that determines the extent of a defendant’s conduct that may be considered by the federal sentencing guidelines. This guide looks at the ke...
See Full Guide
The “First Step Act” One Year Later: How Has It Changed Federal Sentencing?
May 05, 2021
The First Step Act of 2018 was a major piece of criminal justice reform legislation. Its reforms included sentencing, prison programming, recidivism reduction efforts, and reentry procedures. This gui...
See Full Guide
Making a Federal Case Out of It: The Federalization of Common Law Crimes
May 03, 2021
Federal criminal law began with the ratification of our Constitution with three criminal prohibitions. Today, after decades of regulatory action and commerce-based criminal jurisdiction, there are ove...
See Full Guide
The Enduring Importance of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
May 01, 2021
Although the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 rendered the then-mandatory Federal Sentencing Guidelines "advisory only," the guidelines have maintained their importance in federal criminal cases. This guide...
See Full Guide
The Federal Criminal Process Part III: The Sentencing Phase
May 01, 2021
In this final video of a three-part series, federal criminal defense attorney Joseph Abrams discusses the sentencing phase of the federal criminal process....
See Full Guide
The Federal Criminal Process Part II: The Trial Phase
Apr 24, 2021
In this second video of a series of three, federal criminal defense attorney Joseph Abrams discusses the trial phase of the federal criminal process....
See Full Guide
The Federal Criminal Process Part I: The Investigation and Pretrial Phases
Apr 24, 2021
In this first video of a series of three, federal criminal defense attorney Joseph Abrams discusses the investigation and pretrial phases of the federal criminal process....
See Full Guide
If I'm Convicted of a Federal Drug Crime, Can I Receive a Sentence Below the Statutory Minimum?
Apr 24, 2021
In this video, federal criminal defense attorney Joseph Abrams explains how a convicted federal drug defendant can avoid receiving the statutorily required minimum sentence....
See Full Guide