Sentencing Investigation for Attorneys! Sentencing Investigations offers private law practices and public defenders another dimension to their defense team, which will provide that critical and essential balance providing a vigorous defense for your clients. Some of the key issues as to why all defense teams should consider the use of a sentencing consultant are addressed below: Why has during the past decade, has there been considerable growth in defense-based sentencing concepts. Many criminal defense law practices have come to embrace this concept for the following reasons: plea negotiations can be enhanced more cases have been won provide the prosecution and the court with increased options other than incarceration sentencing consultants serve as a time saving liaison between the lawyer and client and their families facilitate treatment program referrals prepare the client for the probation interview (an informed and prepared client makes for a better interview during this crucial process) response to the potentially damaging probation sentencing report and recommendations these reports are client-based, not crime-based, which in effect, humanizes the client to the court and prosecution What a Sentencing Advocate/Consultant can do for an attorney: Time saving liaison between the law practice and client and family members to reduce the number of calls to your practice by addressing many of the non-legal questions As licensed private investigators, Sentencing Investigation has unrestricted access to those in custody without the need for court orders or attorney authorizations Frequent in-custody client and family contacts Provide a comprehensive social history investigation to uncover potential mitigating factors from a social, familial and medical perspective Identify possible witnesses and information to support mitigation Assist the defense team in the preparation of the case How a defense-based sentencing concept IMPACT the proceedings. Just what good will such an investigation and report do? Probation sentencing reports and recommendations place a very heavy burden on the defense team since courts accept this information and recommendations 80% or more of the time. A defense-based sentencing report provides the crucial balance to this process in the following manner: This report gives alternatives to Judicial Officers to what was asked by the prosecution Explains how important factors in a client's life have contributed to the offense behavior Addresses the client's potential treatment or other needs Up to date information and current knowledge about available community resources and programs Suggests means to incorporate into a sentence, potential solutions to the problem which the crime represents for both society and the defendant Out-of-the-box creative/critical thinking limited only by imagination presented in a compelling format Integration of photographic images for added impact and dimension The most crucial advantage in retaining the services of a sentencing consultant is providing a non-adversarial response, to the potentially damaging probation report. There are many areas in these Probation reports which may tilt the proceedings in one way or another. Integration of research/studies in fields of forensic social work, psychology, criminology and related disciplines to support hypotheses. Some key areas addressed in a private defense sentencing report includes but are not limited to: Rules of Court Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances Probation Eligibility Arguments as to Unusual Circumstances to overcome Presumptive Ineligibility for Probation Presentation of arguments to mitigate sentences on Statutorily Ineligible for probation cases A defense-oriented analysis as to the Criteria Affecting the Decision to Grant or Deny Probation Presentation of compelling reasons and the rationale as to why an alternative sentence should be considered.

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