What is a Sentencing Consultant or Specialist? Is there a difference between a Federal Sentencing Consultant or Specialist & a State Sentencing Consultant or Specialist?

Post Booker and FanFan decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court make using a sentencing specialist or consultant even more important than before. Sentencing specialists or consultants specialize mostly in the federal prison system. They have a direct result on how much time a convicted felon may spend in federal prisons or state prisons, depending on the jurisdiction of their alleged crime. Smart criminal defense attorneys are utilizing their services to get an "edge" on sentencing issues.

(PRWEB) April 1, 2005 -- Sentencing consultants or specialists work with the sentencing guidelines on a day-to-day basis. In doing this they have developed the technical expertise needed to be most effective in dealing with sentencing issues in either the federal court or state court system.

Through their extensive research and expertise, the successful sentencing consultant or specialist knows how to interpret the sentencing guidelines depending on the jurisdiction. The federal court system is broken up into circuits and each circuit court develops their own interpretation of the federal sentencing guidelines based on established case law of that particular circuit. Some states model the federal system and function similarly. They also develop their own interpretation through established case law.

Sentencing consultants or specialists are becoming more and more popular in light of the federal sentencing guidelines becoming discretionary or advisory, rather than pre Booker and FanFan when they were mandatory. Judges now have more options and should take into consideration that each case is different and apply the appropriate sentence.

Alternative methods of incarceration will be more established in both federal and state courts. Judges have the authority to downward depart from the guidelines to sentence a convicted felon to treatment programs, half-way houses and home confinement for their full sentence, rather than a term of imprisonment.

To find out more how a sentencing consultant or specialist, along with a prison consultant can assist a defendant or criminal defense attorney, please refer to the web site of Federal Prison Consultants, Inc. located on the Internet at www.FederalPrisonConsultants.com or call the offices at toll-free 800.431.6258.

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