Category Archives: Federal Crime
Federal Sentencing Guidelines: What They Mean For Your Case
The federal sentencing guidelines are a set of rules established to ensure consistent sentencing practices across federal courts. These guidelines were developed by the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent agency within the judicial branch, to create a fair and uniform sentencing system. They provide a framework for judges to determine appropriate sentences for… Read More »
Should You Accept A Plea Bargain If You Are Facing A Federal Criminal Charge?
If you or someone else in your life was arrested and charged with a federal crime, you are probably feeling totally overwhelmed. Going up against federal prosecutors is scary. You may be considering a plea agreement. The Department of Justice (DOJ) explains that plea bargaining is a deal between the government and the defendant… Read More »
When Does Offensive Speech Cross The Line Into Criminal Activity?
The First Amendment provides broad protections for freedom of speech. Even if particular speech is upsetting or produces a strong emotional reaction in the listener, that does not make the speech criminal. At least in most cases. The courts have recognized some exceptions to the First Amendment, including one for “true threats.” As defined… Read More »
Is “Rehabilitation” A Factor In Deciding A Federal Prison Sentence?
Although historically the federal government looked at prison as a way to “rehabilitate” individuals convicted of criminal activity, since the 1980s, legislative policy has moved away from that objective. In fact, when Congress created the federal sentencing guidelines in the mid-1980s, one of the stated objectives was to “recognize that imprisonment is not an… Read More »
House Makes Lynching a Federal Hate Crime, But Some Are Skeptical as to Whether This Represents Justice
In March, the House officially designated lynching to be a federal crime law, punishable by life in prison, a fine, or both penalties. The law was named for Emmett Till (the “Emmett Till Antilynching Act”), who was tortured and lynched in Mississippi 65 years ago. Congress has considered similar legislation dozens of times over… Read More »
New Research Indicates That Only Two Percent of Those Charged with Federal Crimes Go to Court, And Most Are Convicted
According to the data recently collected by the federal judiciary and analyzed by the Pew Research Center, trials and acquittals are becoming more and more rare when it comes to federal criminal charges. Specifically, during the 2018 fiscal year, close to 80,000 people were defendants in federal cases, and only two percent of them… Read More »
