Telling the Story of Prison at Sentencing
Prison is not just a potential outcome of sentencing; it can and should be an influencer at sentencing. Where a person will serve their time, how a person will serve their time, and what information follows them into an institution are all integral components of a comprehensive, empathy-based, sentencing presentation.
Helping us get set for sentencing is Maureen Baird. Ms. Baird retired after a distinguished career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), including serving as warden of some of the toughest prisons in the system. Ms. Baird now serves as a consultant and expert witness on all things related to the BOP.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- Hope and fear in the BOP;
- The counterproductive outcomes of draconian sentencing laws;
- The lack of meaningful care and treatment necessary to facilitate rehabilitation;
- How telling the story of the “where and how” a person will serve their sentence can influence the outcome of a sentencing hearing;
- Some practical ways to integrate BOP/Prison issues into your sentencing presentation;
- Sample testimony Maureen has given in sentencing mitigation video subsmissions (28:30);
- Sentencing and BOP issues for elderly clients and clients with extraordinary mental or physical health issues;
- Serving time during a pandemic;
- How to attack the BOP’s boilerplate response when lawyers raise the issue of lack of proper care;
- The essential role the pre-sentence report plays in BOP placement;
- Understanding the BOP’s “security scoring system”;
- How to craft a meaningful placement recommendation for the judge.
LINKS:
Maureen Baird @ LinkdIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-baird-37637b73/
“Earning Early Release Under the First Step Act” Bloomberg Law, Maureen Baird, Mark Allenbaugh, Alan Ellis:
FREE RESOURCES:
BOP FORM LETTER — (Falsely) stating they are equipped to handle all medical issues:
CHAMPION ARTICLE ON SENTENCING VIDEOS (USING MOVING PICTURES TO BUILD THE BRIDGE OF EMPATHY AT SENTENCING):
