In rare displays of bipartisanship, state legislative coalitions of liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans are overhauling sentencing procedures and making other important changes in criminal justice laws. Legislatures in Alabama and Maryland... Read More

(Image credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Law3.jpg) People or organizations embroiled in lawsuits due to accusations of criminal misconduct need to engage the services of a attorney to defend themselves. It is the duty of... Read More

When a party pleads guilty to multiple crimes in open court and with the advice of competent counsel he or she can expect to spend time in jail or prison and to have no opportunity to withdraw the plea. However, in People v. Dobson , Not Reported in Cal... Read More

BRYANT SIGNS OFF ON MS SENTENCING OVERHAUL: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) signed prison sentence reform legislation last week that supporters say could save the Magnolia State $266 million over the next decade. The bill, HB 585, requires those convicted... Read More

I write today about a truly aberrational case out of the Second Circuit, [ enhanced version available to lexis.com subscribers ]. I say that it is aberrational, but obviously that is loaded with my value judgment characterization. The case is United... Read More

Twenty-three states enacted 51 bills last year dealing with sentencing and criminal penalties, according to the State Sentencing and Corrections Legislation database provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Pew Charitable Trusts’... Read More