Latest Updates
Federal Relief & Sentencing Updates
Federal sentencing updates covering appellate decisions, compassionate release developments, Bureau of Prisons issues, Supreme Court activity, and post-conviction litigation affecting federal relief considerations.
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Federal Sentencing Guidelines Update — October 25, 2023
October 2023 federal sentencing amendment update covering Amendment 814 compassionate release, medical and family circumstances, abuse-related relief, unusually long sentences, Amendment 821 status points, zero-point offenders, criminal-history review, retroactivity beginning February 1, 2024, and federal sentence-reduction screening.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — October 16–20, 2023
October 2023 federal Miranda, ACCA, and involuntary-medication update covering Donald Miranda waiver reversal, Redd § 2255 ACCA relief for Maryland first-degree assault, Foreman alien-transportation evidence error, Harris religious objection to forcible medication, Fieste Sell dosage-range remand, Amendment 814 and 821 watch, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — October 9–13, 2023
October 2023 federal fraud loss and lien update covering Rahimi Second Amendment watch, Harris fake-deed fraud loss resentencing, Pate retaliatory-lien statutory reversal involving former federal officials, federal prison rumor control, Amendment 814 and 821 watch, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — October 2–6, 2023
October 2023 federal compassionate release and habeas update covering Smith Confrontation Clause expert testimony, McIntosh criminal forfeiture timing, Quirós-Morales compassionate-release remand, McMullen § 2254 ineffective assistance evidentiary hearing, Steiger revocation resentencing, Amendment 814 watch, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 30–February 3, 2023
February 2023 federal First Step Act, ACCA, and Ruan update covering Reed First Step Act remand under Concepcion, Greer supervised-release revocation resentencing, White ACCA Borden predicate relief, Baker § 924(c) brandishing reversal, Kahn Ruan medical-prescribing jury-instruction error, Sentencing Commission proposed amendments, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 16–20, 2023
January 2023 federal § 924(c) and career-offender update covering Hall Davis and Taylor relief for Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, Wright Fourth Amendment seizure timing, Dupree en banc career-offender relief for inchoate drug offenses, Supreme Court acquitted-conduct watch, Counterman true-threat review, Pugin and Cordero-Garcia immigration obstruction cases, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 9–13, 2023
January 2023 federal guideline amendment and compassionate release update covering Mendez-Rodriguez upward-variance explanation remand, Range en banc Second Amendment rehearing, Mangarella compassionate-release COVID-risk remand, Sommerville juror-questionnaire remand, U.S. Sentencing Commission proposed amendments, safety valve, criminal history, acquitted conduct, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 2–6, 2023
January 2023 federal compassionate release and Ruan update covering Malone compassionate-release relief, Villa plea-offer ineffective assistance hearing, Thabit warrantless residence search suppression, Ruan medical-prescribing jury-instruction error, McClinton acquitted-conduct watch, attorney-client privilege review, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Sentencing Reform Outlook — January 2, 2023
January 2023 federal sentencing reform outlook covering congressional reform prospects, Attorney General Garland’s crack/powder cocaine charging policy, U.S. Sentencing Commission guideline amendment activity, compassionate release, acquitted conduct, Concepcion, clemency, pardons, commutations, and federal relief screening.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — December 26–30, 2022
December 2022 federal methamphetamine, ACCA, and § 924(c) update covering Blaszczak fraud-property convictions after Kelly, Shivers reckless-endangerment enhancement reversal, Pumpkin § 924(c) discharge reduction, Myers Missouri cocaine ACCA predicate rejection, Robinson methamphetamine purity guideline ruling, and BOP relief statistics.