In preparing for sentencing, you can arm yourself by developing a basic understanding of the federal sentencing guidelines.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines used to bind judges. Regardless of a defendant’s personal characteristics, the judges were mandated to sentence in accordance with a range that the federal sentencing guidelines provided. Sentencing law changed in 2005, when the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Booker. With the Booker opinion, the federal sentencing guidelines became “advisory” rather than mandatory. This change has a huge influence on every defendant in federal court.
As a consequence of the Booker decision, defendants have an opportunity to influence the sentencing judge. Defendants should expect prosecutors to prepare extensive packages that will influence the judge by arguing why the maximize sentence is appropriate. It’s wise for defendants to recognize that prosecutors consider it their duty to protect society by punishing crime, and at sentencing they’re after stiff punishments.
Probation officers, too, will make a strong case for a punitive sentence. The judge will consider arguments from the prosecutor, the probation officer, and the federal sentencing guidelines, when determining the appropriate sentence.
The defendant’s attorney will prepare a sentencing memorandum to argue the merits of a lower sentence. The Booker decision, however, suggests that defendants have a personal responsibility if they want to p themselves in the best possible position at sentencing. A deliberate plan for a lower sentence should include a well-thought out sentencing narrative.
With a strong sentencing narrative, defendants have an opportunity to become their strongest advocates for leniency at sentencing.
Sentencing Narratives
Through our work as advocates, we’ve spoken with several federal judges. Judge Frank Zapata and Judge Charles Pyle, U.S. District Court Judges in Tucson told members of our team that defense lawyers frequently failed to tell the full story of the defendant. Judge Gonzalo Paul Curiel, from the Southern District Court in San Diego said the same thing at a conference in San Diego. Even Judge Charles Breyer, who sits on the sentencing commission, said the same thing. We spoke about Incentivizing Excellence at a conference at UC Hastings Law School, and we learned a great deal by interacting with judges that elaborated on their thoughts about preparing for sentencing.
Unfortunately, many lawyers focus exclusively on the law when it comes to sentencing. In their sentencing memorandums, too many attorneys cite boilerplate legal language that judges already know. Judge Curiel made this precise complaint when he spoke at the conference in San Diego. Rather than reading about laws that Congress passed, and which he knew, he would rather learn more about the personal characteristics of the defendant.
Attorneys do not serve their clients well when they focus exclusively on case law or congressional intent. When we asked Judge Mark W Bennett how defendants could advance prospects for an early release from prison, he said that they should tell the story of their life.
Judge Bennett has sentenced more than 4,000 people to federal prison. As other judges with whom members of our team have spoke, Judge Bennett said that lawyers frequently didn’t take enough time to prepare their clients for sentencing. If the lawyer didn’t help the judge understand the defendant, the judge didn’t have much of a choice but to rely upon the federal sentencing guidelines when determining the appropriate sentence. When defendants invest time and energy to tell their life stories, they become the best advocate when it came to requesting mercy.
Criminal History:
In order to build a powerful case that would persuade a judge to impose a term lower than the federal sentencing guidelines suggest, the narrative must be complete. That means it shouldn’t only highlight reasons why the defendant is worthy of a lower sentence, it should show what the defendant has learned. If the defendant has any type of criminal history, the defendant should make certain that the sentencing narrative covers that history.
Chapter four of the federal sentencing guidelines requires probation officers to document criminal history. Probation officers will use federal law enforcement databases to determine whether the defendant has had any previous encounter with the criminal justice system. If the defendant has a history, any history, the defendant should strategically about how he is going to weave that explanation into the sentencing narrative.
Many defendants focus exclusively on the current offense, even though federal databases may include records of a defendant’s prior altercation with law enforcement. Those altercations may have occurred decades ago. They may have occurred when the defendant was a juvenile. The defendant may have been acquitted. The altercation may have occurred relatively recently. If a defendant has a criminal history, any type of criminal history, it’s in his best interest to weave that message into the story. He should anticipate that the probation officer will highlight a criminal history, and he should expect the prosecutor to use the criminal history as a reason to sentence to impose a term at the higher end of the federal sentencing guidelines. If a defendant wants to overcome, he should address the criminal history head on with an effective sentencing narrative.
In summary, any person that is preparing for sentencing should do everything possible to provide the judge with a good understanding of past influences. Build a persuasive story, as shown in the sample narratives included with this course.