As NLPA has previously written, a national wave of sentencing reform is occurring, with the wave cresting in the great state of California. Recently, California enacted Senate Bill 9 into law, whereby criminal defendants who were under age eighteen at the time of their crime and who were sentenced to life in prison without parole can ask the sentencing court to review their cases and consider permitting parole after serving twenty-five years in prison. Election Night 2012 provided another sentencing reform breakthrough in California with the passage of Proposition 36. NLPA notes that Proposition 36 passed with an overwhelming 68.65 of voters in favor.   Read More

Retroactive Guidelines Expanded: More New Developments in Crack-Cocaine Sentencing  Read More

NOT GUILTY VERDICT: THE NEED FOR PROPER SELECTION OF JURY - ANOTHER NLPA VICTORY! Any defendant, defense lawyer or a family member who has been involved in the criminal system understands how important it is to have an impartial and objective jury selected for the trial. The recent case of Torrence Hatch aka rapper, Lil’ Boosie  who was charged with first degree murder in the State of Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Parish (Case No. 06-10-0603, ...  Read More

NLPA saves its clients more than 150 years in prison - A REFLECTION ON THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WE HELPED ACHIEVE DURING 2011During 2011 NLPA continued obtaining successful outcomes for its clients. While obviously no one can guarantee the successful outcome of every case, we’re very proud of our track record. Here is a spotlight of some of what we were able to accomplish during 2011!Lomas, L - NLPA assisted counsel for Mr. Lomas in preparing sent...  Read More

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN GOOD TIME INCREASES ON THE HORIZON FOR FEDERAL INMATESIn February, 2011 Attorney General Holder announced that President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 (FY 2012) budget proposal that for the first time includes planning that would save the U.S. Taxpayers $41Million as a result of passage of the proposed legislation that would expand the federal Good Time credit. It would also increase reentry programs for prisoners. In part the...  Read More

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN GOOD TIME INCREASES ON THE HORIZON FOR FEDERAL INMATESIn February, 2011 Attorney General Holder announced that President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 (FY 2012) budget proposal that for the first time includes planning that would save the U.S. Taxpayers $41Million as a result of passage of the proposed legislation that would expand the federal Good Time credit. It would also increase reentry programs for prisoners. In part the...  Read More

2010 FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES ISSUED - FEDERAL COURT HOLDS THAT NEW CRACK GUIDELINES APPLY TO DEFENDANTS CONVICTED BEFORE FAIR SENTENCING ACT & LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO MAKE CRACK LAW RETROACTIVEOn July 27, 2010,  the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA) of 2010 was passed by the United States House of Representatives after being passed by the Senate on March 17, and was signed by the President on August 3, 2010.  The law went into effec...  Read More

2010 FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES ISSUED - FEDERAL COURT HOLDS THAT NEW CRACK GUIDELINES APPLY TO DEFENDANTS CONVICTED BEFORE FAIR SENTENCING ACTThe United States Sentencing Commission, realizing the unfair nature of the United States Sentencing Guidelines, has recently issued amendments to the Guidelines dealing with crack cocaine offenses.  Reflecting the changes made by the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 regarding sentencing fairness for of...  Read More

GREAT NEWS FOR CRACK-COCAINE CASES: FAIR SENTENCING ACT OF 2010 IS PASSED! PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS ACT INTO LAWGreat news for crack-cocaine defendants! On August 2, 2010 President Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 which  significantly reduces the sentencing disparity between crack-cocaine and powder cocaine in federal cases and repeals the five year mandatory minimum associated with simple possession of crack cocaine. FREQUENTLY ASK...  Read More

GREAT NEWS FOR CRACK-COCAINE CASES: FAIR SENTENCING ACT OF 2010 IS PASSED! PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS ACT INTO LAWGreat news for crack-cocaine defendants! On July 28, 2010 the United States House of Representatives passed legislation to significantly reduce the sentencing disparity between crack-cocaine and powder cocaine in federal cases and to repeal the five year mandatory minimum associated with simple possession of crack cocaine. The bill, otherw...  Read More

THOUSANDS OF INMATES REMAIN IN WAITING: WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE FAIRNESS IN COCAINE SENTENCING ACT OF 2009(H.R. 3245)STATUS OFH.R. 3245 AKATHE ”CRACK-RATIO BILL”Good news! The Cocaine Equalization Bill has passed the House Judiciary Committee. Now the bill must be reviewed by the Senate. We must await final votes on this bill and a hearing to determine if it will apply retroactively to those who have already been sentenced. The bill must pass ...  Read More

THOUSANDS OF INMATES REMAIN IN WAITING: WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE FAIRNESS IN COCAINE SENTENCING ACT OF 2009(H.R. 3245)STATUS OFH.R. 3245 AKATHE ”CRACK-RATIO BILL”Good news! The Cocaine Equalization Bill has passed the House Judiciary Committee. Now the bill must be reviewed by the Senate. We must await final votes on this bill and a hearing to determine if it will apply retroactively to those who have already been sentenced. The bill must pass ...  Read More

THE STATE OF THE (PRISON)UNION CRACK-RATIO SENTENCES, RETROACTIVITY, GOOD TIME & PAROLE - WHERE ARE WE HEADING? H.R. 3245 - THE CRACK-RATIO BILL & THE BURNING QUESTION: WILL IT APPLY RETROACTIVELY?We all remember the Schoolhouse Rock segment about how a bill becomes a law. So where does the infamous crack-ratio bill, aka H.R. 3245 stand? Since the April 29, 2009 hearings in the Senate, several district courts have announced that they will...  Read More

OBAMA SEEKS CRACK-COCAINE SENTENCE CHANGESCONGRESS URGED TO EQUALIZE PENALTY, CORRECT RACIAL DISPARITY. CHANGE BEGINS NOWIt's been a long time coming but we finally have taken another giant step in helping defendants involved in crack-cocaine offenses be able to receive a sentence that is consistent with individuals who were involved with powder cocaine. As you will see from reading this memo, the Department of Justice has conceded that crack-coc...  Read More

UPDATE: “THE GOOD TIME BILL”H.R.1475 ~ Federal Prison Work Incentive Act of 2009On March 12th, 2009, Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) introduced H.R. 1457, to restore the former system of good time allowances toward service of Federal prison terms, and for other purposes, otherwise known as “The Good Time Bill”.  He introduced a similar bill towards the end of the 2008 session.  This bill would reduce the sentences of people in federal...  Read More

POSITIVE CHANGES FOR INMATES ON THE HORIZON UNDER PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA’S LEADERSHIPOn November 4, 2008, Democratic candidate Barack Obama was elected president of the United States.  Further, the Democratic party extended its majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.  What does this mean for criminal defendant sin the federal system?  NEW SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTSIt is believed that President-elect Obama may...  Read More

FINALLY, AN EASY WAY TO FINANCE YOUR LEGAL FEES! WHETHER YOU’RE AN ATTORNEY WHO OFTEN HAS TO TURN DOWN BUSINESS DUE TO THE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OF YOUR POTENTIAL CLIENTS OR, A CLIENT WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO PAY ALL OF YOUR LEGAL EXPENSES UP FRONT OR IN THE TIME FRAME PERMITTED BY YOUR ATTORNEY’S IN-HOUSE PAYMENT PLANS, NOW THERE’S A WAY TO GET THE FINANCING HELP YOU NEED! Have you tried in the past to obtain a loan for your legal expenses but were ...  Read More

CONGRESS HARD AT WORK TO ELIMINATE MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES, REINSTATE PAROLE & INCREASE GOOD TIME!INTRODUCTION - As the political climate begins to change there are at last new potentially favorable developments taking place in congress to help defendants and their families. This report is designed to provide an update concerning this information. I. Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2008 - On January 17, 2008 a long-awaited bill was ...  Read More

GREAT NEWS FOR CRACK CASE DEFENDANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES: NEW SENTENCING GUIDELINES GO INTO EFFECT. BOP PROJECTS 20,000 DEFENDANTS ELIGIBLE FOR EARLY RELEASE!As most readers know, the  United States Sentencing Commission has now changed the sentencing guidelines for crack-cocaine cases. Further, on December 11, 2007 the Commission announced that the amended guidelines are retroactive. It is estimated that nearly 20,000 crack offenders are in ...  Read More

NLPA helps defendant set aside plea that was not knowingly or voluntarily   Read More