What options exist after a federal sentence is imposed?

Common options include direct appeal, a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion, habeas under § 2241 in limited circumstances, and sentence reductions under 18 U.S.C. § 3582 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 35.

Can a federal sentence be reduced after sentencing?

Yes. Pathways may include 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) (compassionate release) and § 3582(c)(2) (retroactive guideline amendments), as well as Rule 35 in specific scenarios.

How can ALERT 2020 help with post-conviction relief?

We provide written case evaluations that identify viable relief options, outline documents to gather, and summarize next steps tailored to the case.

Federal Criminal Law

On this page: Overview · Common Federal Case Types · After Sentencing · Ways to Challenge or Reduce a Sentence · Get Help

Overview

In federal criminal courts, once a defendant has been sentenced after conviction for a federal criminal offense, the district court judge presiding over the case will hand down a sentence. In federal cases, this is often a long term of imprisonment in federal prison.

Common Federal Case Types We Track

ALERT 2020 researches a wide variety of Federal Criminal cases that include, but are not limited to:

Federal Drug Offenses
White Collar Crimes
Internet Crimes
Child Pornography
Kidnapping
Weapons Violations
RICO Charges
Tax Crimes
Conspiracy
Wire Fraud
Bank Fraud
Mail Fraud
Healthcare Fraud
Many More

After Sentencing: Don’t Stop Fighting

After being sentenced to a federal prison, the defendant doesn't have to stop fighting and just accept they will be spending the next several years in prison.

Our federal criminal justice system is not perfect and judges and juries make mistakes. Our judicial system offers several ways for a defendant to challenge their conviction and sentencing. There are also several opportunities for potential sentence reductions post-sentencing.

Post-conviction means you might be able to challenge the guilty verdict, challenge an unfair sentence, or request an early release. There are a several ways a post-conviction pleadings can work to get you released, or reduce your sentence.

Ways to Challenge a Conviction or Reduce a Sentence

Besides direct attacks on the conviction itself through a direct appeal or a writ of habeas corpus alleging violations of the defendant's constitutional rights, there are also several opportunities for potential sentence reductions post-sentencing. There are several common avenues by which defendants may seek to have their sentence reduced after they have already begun serving time in federal prison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What options exist after a federal sentence is imposed?: Common options include direct appeal, a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion, habeas under § 2241 in limited circumstances, and sentence reductions under 18 U.S.C. § 3582 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 35.
Can a federal sentence be reduced after sentencing?: Yes. Pathways may include 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) (compassionate release) and § 3582(c)(2) (retroactive guideline amendments), as well as Rule 35 in specific scenarios.
How can ALERT 2020 help with post-conviction relief?: We provide written case evaluations that identify viable relief options, outline documents to gather, and summarize next steps tailored to the case.