Indian Country: A Glimpse into Tribal and Federal Indian Criminal (In)Justice
The criminal justice system is a tool of social control. And no where is that more evident than on our nation’s Indian reservations. American Indians have been the targets of the wrath of the criminal process since the day a renegade Sioux warrior Crow Dog shot Chief Spotted Tail dead in the late 1800’s. We…
Defense Documentaries: How Defense Attorneys Use Cinematic Storytelling to Reduce Sentences (Ep. 182 of The Business of Story Podcast Featuring Doug Passon)
Continuing my goal of showcasing my own work in December, this week’s episode is all about my passion, my love, my baby; what we call DEFENSE DOCUMENTARIES. Some call them mitigation videos or sentencing videos. These are short, true, films produced for criminal cases (for plea negotion, sentencing, and post-conviction relief) and used to humanize…
Listening to Understand: What Laywers & Clients Can Learn From Improv
Watch this episode on YOUTUBE, listen on APPLE PODCASTS, or wherever you get your podcasts! I hate to admit it, but we lawyers, we’re really good talkers, but listening? Not so much. When your lawyer puts away the police report, sits with you, and says, “tell me your story, I’m all ears,” then you know you…
Prison Consultants and the Myth of the Fixer: How to Separate Substance from Snake Oil
Watch this episode on YOUTUBE, on APPLE PODCASTS, or wherever you get your podcasts! Prison consultants have been receiving dubious attention in the press lately. The truth is, a qualified prison consultant can be a valuable member of a well-managed defense team. But, beware of so-called experts who promise you the moon for a fee.…
Digging Deep With Defense Maps
Understanding, let alone telling, your client’s story can be a daunting task. Lawyers often lack the time and resources to peel back the layers of a client’s life and properly put their offense in context. Thankfully, they now have a free, powerful, comprehensive and confidential tool to help get the job done – Defense Map.…
Question Everything: Computer Forensics at Sentencing
In a criminal case, the contents of your computer can be your saving grace or the nail in your coffin. This is particularly true in cases involving online offenses. But, taking the government’s word for what they found during the search of your devices is a very bad idea! Helping us get Set For Sentencing…
The Devil You Know: The “Funny Math” of the Guidelines, Proposed Fixes, and Lessons Learned From Capital Defense.
Helping us get Set For Sentencing, Prof. Douglas Berman. He is is the Newton D. Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law and Executive Director of the Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, housed in the Moritz College of Law of The Ohio State University. Professor Berman is the creator and author of the widely-read and widely-cited blog, Sentencing Law…
Understanding Autism at Sentencing
At least 1 in every 54 Americans are on the Autism Spectrum. But prosecutors and judges often fail to understand what Autism is, why those on the spectrum can be morally blameless for the crimes they have committed, why they are they unlikely to reoffend, and why sending them to prison is cruel and unusual…
Disrupting the Dehumanizing Sentencing Process
I can think of no better guest to officially launch the Set For Sentencing Podcast than the incomparable Liz Vartkessian!
Her amazing organization takes an undeniably essential humanistic approach to the development of crucial sentencing mitigation in capital and serious non-capital cases.
I have learned so much from Liz and the fantastic trainings her organization provides over the years, and I can’t wait for you to meet her.