The title of this post is the title of this article just posted to SSRN and authored by Alexandra L. Klein. Here is its abstract: In 2023, Florida passed a law permitting the imposition of the death penalty for the...
Douglas A. Berman
Death Penalty Reforms
Sentences Reconsidered
Who Sentences
A helpdul colleague made sure I saw this new ProPublica piece looking at Louisiana's new parole law and practices. I would recommend the lengthy piece in full, with its themes previews by this headline: "An Algorithm Deemed This Nearly Blind...
Douglas A. Berman
Procedure and Proof at Sentencing
Sentences Reconsidered
Technocorrections
Who Sentences
As detailed in this press release, the "United States Sentencing Commission announced this week the formation of a Sentence Impact Advisory Group (SIAG) and an ad hoc Research and Data Practices Advisory Group (RDPAG) with the objectives of strengthening, modernizing,...
Douglas A. Berman
Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Who Sentences
The title of this post is the title of this article/book review authored by Jeffrey Bellin and I. Bennett Capers and recently posted to SSRN. Here is its abstract: The war on drugs is widely viewed as a policy failure....
Douglas A. Berman
Drug Offense Sentencing
Who Sentences
As reported in this AP article, a "Florida man convicted of killing a Miami Herald employee who was abducted on her lunch break was executed Tuesday evening." Here is more: Michael Tanzi was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. following a...
Douglas A. Berman
Baze and Glossip lethal injection cases
Death Penalty Reforms
The question in the title of this post is prompted by this new Bloomberg Law podcast titled "Trump Gets Millions in Pro Bono Work, But Details Still Fuzzy." Here is the set up to the discussion: Law firms are striking...
Douglas A. Berman
FIRST STEP Act and its implementation
Prisons and prisoners
Who Sentences
Via email, I learned this morning that the Bureau of Justice Statistics has now published new data about jail populations as of 2023 under the exciting title "Jail Inmates in 2023 - Statistical Tables." The new data is available now...
Douglas A. Berman
Data on sentencing
Prisons and prisoners
Scope of Imprisonment
Who Sentences
The title of this post is the title of this new article now available via SSRN authored by Brandon Stras. Here is its abstract: Though the Pardon Clause could be interpreted to include or exclude corporate offenses, overlooked history suggests...
Douglas A. Berman
Clemency and Pardons
Offender Characteristics
Sentences Reconsidered
White-collar sentencing
Who Sentences
As detailed on this webpage, federal sentencing fans need to mark their calendars for the afternoon of April 11, 2025. In addition to watching The Masters, I now expect to be multitasking because the US Sentencing Commission has noticed its...
Douglas A. Berman
Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Who Sentences
The title of this post is the title of this new paper just posted to SSRN and authored by Michael L. Smith. Here is its abstract: Discussions of criminal law, enforcement, and reform are frequently messy and misleading. Anecdotes distract...
Douglas A. Berman
Procedure and Proof at Sentencing
Who Sentences
The Supreme Court this morning issued this short order list that still has some interesting elements for criminal justice fans. Specifically, the Court granted cert on two cases, both of which involve issues of constitutional criminal procedure. Here are the...
Douglas A. Berman
Fines, Restitution and Other Economic Sanctions
Procedure and Proof at Sentencing
Who Sentences
The question in the title of this post is prompted by this new article discussing statements today by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The piece is headlined "AG Pam Bondi Says Trump Is Going to Seek the Death Penalty ‘Whenever Possible’...
Douglas A. Berman
Criminal justice in the Trump Administration
Death Penalty Reforms
Who Sentences
In this post last August, I asked "what sentence for former US Rep George Santos after his plea to fraud and identity theft?". US District Judge Joanna Seybert is scheduled to provide the official answer to this question at George...
Douglas A. Berman
Celebrity sentencings
Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Offender Characteristics
Offense Characteristics
White-collar sentencing
Who Sentences
It has been a couple of montjs since I highlighted essays from Inquest, "a decarceral brainstorm," and so here is coverage of just come of its newer pieces that sentencing fans may want to check out: By Denali Wilson, "Ending...
Douglas A. Berman
Prisons and prisoners
Scope of Imprisonment
Pages