Category: Sentencing

Almost everyone saw the headlines regarding the sentencing hearings of Larry Nassar and the photos and videos of the hundreds of gymnasts, former gymnasts, and parents who made personal statements in court. This news coverage provided a glance into part of the criminal justice process with which not many…

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathy Kane was found guilty of two counts of perjury and multiple misdemeanors. Today, the question is, what will be Kathy Kane’s sentence? Pennsylvania Sentencing Guidelines The Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines layout a matrix to be applied to every defendant. However, the guidelines are not mandatory and…

As if the federal sentencing guidelines aren’t harsh enough, the guidelines occasionally contain a “cross reference” or a “special instruction”. At sentencing in federal court, Cross References & Special Instructions create a situation where the guidelines are increased to suggest to the court the defendant should get…

In Pennsylvania, a judge can sentence a defendant to a consecutive or a concurrent term of prison. No rule exists governing when a judge can give a consecutive sentence. On review, the appellate courts apply the same appellate principals to concurrent and consecutive sentences. Meaning, no greater scrutiny…

RRRI stands for Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive. This is a program that allow an inmate in state custody to get paroled before their minimum. At sentencing, the county judge must make the defendant RRRI eligible. If the defendant is not made RRRI eligible by the county judge, there…