Legislation
First Step Act Summary: Common Questions Answered
It has been over eight months since the First Step Act of 2018 was enacted. I have consistently written about the First Step Act since it was adopted. But many people still have questions, and I have been repeatedly asked to provide a First Step Act summary. Fortunately, the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) finally released…
Read MoreThe First Step Act: Work in Progress
The First Step Act – the first meaningful criminal justice reform in many years – is already beginning to make a positive difference in the lives of federal inmates, their families, and their communities. Just last Friday, July 19, 2019, the United States Department of Justice issued a press release informing the public about three…
Read MoreFirearm Laws Applied to Unlawful Aliens
The issue of which constitutional safeguards apply to unlawful aliens has been a topic of heated discussion in recent years as the immigration situation continues to dominate national headlines. Many federal courts have danced around issuing clear holdings that define which rights apply to illegal aliens. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case U.S. v.…
Read MoreThe Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018
What is the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018? Child Pornography President Trump recently signed into law the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (“AVAA”). The AVAA is named after some of the victims of child pornography who were among the most widely disseminated images…
Read MoreThe First Step Act Bill Summary Explained : A Comprehensive Analysis
The First Step Act 2018 Bill Summary: On December 21, 2018, the President signed into law The First Step Act 2018, a bipartisan effort to reform the federal criminal justice system. The Law Office of Brandon Sample has assembled this detailed analysis of the First Step Act 2018 to help the public understand the ins…
Read MoreFirst Step Act Passes Senate
I am pleased to report that the First Step Act has passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation faced a last minute test from three amendments posed by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and John Kennedy (R-AL). But ultimately, the Senate voted down each of the proposed amendments on a bipartisan basis. The first amendment was voted…
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