We are imprisoning our population at an alarming and ever-increasing rate. Every white collar defendant who is charged with a federal felony has a family who suffers along with him or her.
Where can this growing number of people go for answers?
Criminal defense lawyers generally do not know about federal prison. Although they are the experts when it comes to plea deals, trials and sentencing issues, they do not know what happens when their client walks through the prison gates.
The statistics indicate that approximately 80% of all defendants charged with federal crimes spend time in prison. So, for 80% of their clients, criminal defense lawyers do not know the answers to questions that are vital to clients and their families.
There is help. In what started as a trend for only the most wealthy white collar defendants, the field of prison consultants was born.
Now, this field has begun to mature. There are now three different types of prison consultants, each with their own value to a potential client. There is very little difference in cost.
The first two types of prison consultants have limited utility for white collar defendants. These two types are comprised of either former BOP employees, or former inmates who do not have a white collar background. Neither of these categories of consultants can speak to the needs of white collar defendants or their families.
White collar defendants and their families are best served by federal prison consultants who, although they have first-hand experience with the federal prison system, they also have white collar backgrounds. The most effective of these are former trial attorneys who, after a brief stint in a federal prison, are now employed as prison consultants.
Prison consultants who are former attorneys have the distinct advantage of being able to assist their clients with the legal process. They can become an integral part of a legal defense team. They are trained to spot issues quickly and solve problems for their clients efficiently. And they have experience with the types of battles that arise in virtually every case.
Books are helpful. You can get some information on the web. But there is no substitute for a quality white collar prison consultant. Access to someone who can answer your questions, as well as the questions your family will have, provides peace of mind at a critical time. And if you are able to spend less time in the custody of the BOP, they will have been invaluable.
Geoffrey Mousseau can be found on the web at http://FederalPrisonInc.com.
