Resources - Prison Professors

Custody and Classification Calculator
a. https://prisonprofessors.com/calculator/custody-and-security-level-calculator/
Release Dates
a. https://prisonprofessors.com/time-off-calculator-for-sentencing/
Self-directed sentence preparation
a. https://prisonprofessors.com/sentencing-prep-quiz/
Case Studies
a. https://prisonprofessors.com/what-happens-at-a-sentencing-hearing-in-federal-
court-case-study-2020/
Preparation for Release
a. Create
Letters from Prison
a. Understand more about the prison experience by watching our series of videos
where we read letters we’ve received from people in different prisons across
America.
Podcasts
a. Some of our podcasts will help you at different stages of the journey.
Video Stories
a. Learn from our playlist of journal videos.
Blogs and Articles on Current Events
a. Blogs
Testimonials
a. Create an appropriate page

Sentencing Prep

1. What is your knowledge of the judicial process?*
- I know exactly what is going to happen at every stage of this sentencing process.
- I know that I'm supposed to prepare before sentencing. Yet I'm not completely clear on the specifics of what I should be doing now.
- From what I understand, there will be a plea hearing and then a sentencing.
- I'm going to get around to learning, but I'll wait until I get more news from my attorney.
- I'm going to get around to learning, but I'll wait until I get more news from my attorney.
- My attorney told me to leave everything to him and get off the Internet.
2. Which statement best describes your relationship with your attorney?*
- My attorney and I have a collaborative relationship. The attorney has helped me understand ever stage in the sentencing process. I am confident that I'm doing everything possible to prepare.
- My attorney tells me that he has a lot of experience and that I should listen to his guidance. He doesn't want me to bother him too much. So I stay out of his way and let him do his work, while I try to learn what I can.
- Basically, I see my attorney whenever I have to go to court. I trust him to the best he can.
- My attorney charges me by the minute, so I don't like to call him at all. Every conversation seems to cost me hundreds of dollars. I don't really get anything out my conversations with him because he doesn't take time to listen to me.
- My attorney doesn't want to take my calls. He tells me to leave everything in his hands because he's the expert.
3. What do you understand about how the charge will influence your career?*
- I have a clear understanding of how the government investigation will influence my earning capacity. I know precisely how I will recalibrate to launch the next phase of my career.
- I've always been a self-starter. I anticipate that I'll be able to get my career going again after this ends.
- What does my career have to do with anything? I've been charged with a crime. Right now, that's all that matters.
- My job pretty much takes care of itself.
- I've never thought about a job or employment before. Now that I'm a felon, nothing much matters.
4. How well do you under the "plea process" when it comes to judicial proceedings?*
- I have a full understanding on the implications of pleading guilty and not guilty. This means I understand the financial costs, as well as how my decision will influence potential sanctions.
- My attorney tells me that he is going to make the decision that is best for me, because he is the one with all of the experience. I trust him to look out for my interests.
- I pleaded not guilty. My attorney told me that he is going to see what the government has against me. At some point, he said we may be changing the plea. I don't really understand what's going on.
- I don't really know what the government has on me, so i don't see any reason to talk about a plea deal right now.
- There is no way the government can prove anything against me.
5. How would you describe your understanding of the mitigation process?*
- I've created a comprehensive mitigation package that will help the judge see and understand me as an individual. The mitigation strategy will show why I'm a worthy candidate for leniency at sentencing.
- In the past I've gone to church and coached little league. The record of comunity contribution shows that I am a good person and I hope the judge will take that into consideration.
- What's a mitigation process? I mean, I'm sorry for what I did. What else can I do?
- Basically, people know me as a good guy. Once the prosecutor and judge get to know me better, they'll see that I don't belong in prison.
- My attorney told me that I'm going to get sentenced for the crime and nothing I do is going to matter.
6. Which statement best describes your efforts to launch a campaign to generate effective character-reference letters?*
- I've identified the best people to write character reference letters. They have expressed confidence in knowing what to write so that I will get the best result.
- My wife and my parents are always going to stand by me. I think that I'm in good shape here.
- This is going to be pretty simple, because everyone I know basically likes me.
- No one who knows me thinks that I should be going to prison. They all said they'd be willing to do whatever they could to help.
- I don't know want anyone to know that I got arrested, so I'm not telling anyone.
7. Which statement best describes your readiness for the allocution portion of the sentencing hearing?*
- I am well prepared to make the most compelling case for leniency at sentencing. I am confident that I can present that allocution any time, to anyone, without the need for any notes or script.
- I get kind of nervous speaking in public. If I start practicing, I'll be ready before the sentencing date.
- When I get to court, and the judge sees me, I have a good idea that he will know and like me. But I really don't know what I'm going to say other than I'm sorry and that my kids need me at home.
- I'm just going to write a letter, basically saying I'm sorry.
- I'm not good at talking to people, so don't think that I'll do anything.
8. What is your level of understanding regarding the sentencing guidelines and how you can influence sentencing guidelines?*
- I understand the sentencing guidelines. It's clear to me how I can influence the sentencing process, given the rules of the Booker case and the factors a judge must consider at sentencing.
- My attorney told me what the guidelines are and that we'll basically have to live with them. He said that he may be able to talk the judge into the low end of the guidelines.
- The sentencing process, according to my attorney, is pretty basic and there isn't really anything that I have to worry about.
- The sentencing isn't really fair to people, so I'll just let my attorney make the argument on my behalf.
- The attorney told me that it's best to leave everything in his hands.
9. Which statement best describes the preparations you've made to show your level of community support?*
- Everyone in my support group understands the situation that I'm in. We have a solid plan that will help me emerge from this experience successfully, while simultaneously helping my loved ones while I work through the sanction.
- My wife told me that she'll be with me through the whole process, but neither of us really understand what's ahead.
- I've always been pretty much independent. When I get out of this mess I'll get back in touch with the people that are important to my future.
- I've been a good worker on my job and and my family will say that I'm a good person.
- I'm simply going to serve my sentence and then restart my life when I get out, because there isn't anything I could do while I'm away.
10. What do you know about post-conviction proceedings?*
- I have a well-documented strategy to follow. I know precisely what I'm supposed to do before sentencing, after sentencing, and after my release. I'm in the best position possible to get the highest level of liberty, at the soonest possible time.
- I'm going to have a pretty good shot on my appeal. The most important thing now is to get the lowest sentence possible.
- If my attorney does his job and gets me the best sentence, there isn't really much else to think. I'll have to serve my time and move on.
- I don't really care too much about what happens after the sentencing hearing. I know that I'll just have to serve what ever sentence the judge imposes.
- I'm not even thinking about anything other than what kind of sentence I'm going to get.
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The questions above may open your eyes to the importance of preparing for sentencing. We encourage you to respond honestly in this self-directed quiz. Get results on how our team of sentence-mitigation experts would assess your responses. You may find value in some of the free tools and resources we offer to help people prepare for best-outcomes at sentencing.
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