Federal Sentencing and Postconviction News
Now in its fifteenth year, the Federal Sentencing and Postconviction News contains feature articles, practice tips, news updates and recent favorable case law. Click on the links below to view back issues of the News. They can be viewed and printed using the free Adobe Reader. (Issues prior to Winter 1995 do not require the Adobe Reader.)
2008: Spring [New] | Winter
2007: Fall (Additional Favorable New Cases not included in Fall Newsletter) | Summer | Winter
2006: Spring | Fall
2005: Summer | Winter
2000: Summer
1999: Spring
1998: Fall
1997: Winter
1996: Spring | Summer | Fall
1995: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
1994: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
1993: Winter
DISCLAIMER: The publications and articles in these newsletters are intended to provide general information about the matters discussed. They are not legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters.
Books
Federal Sentencing Guidebook
Federal Prison Guidebook
Federal Post Conviction Guidebook
Other Publications
Alan Ellis' articles have appeared in numerous legal publications, including ABA Criminal Justice, The NACDL Champion, Verdict and Federal Sentencing Reporter. (All articles are reprinted with permission.)
"Child Pornography Guidelines Are Ripe for Challenge", ABA Criminal Justice, Summer 2009 (PDF) 
Click here for the HTML version.
"Updated BOP RDAP Information" (PDF)
"Intended Loss" Redefined in Fraud Cases, ABA Criminal Justice, Spring 2009 (PDF)
Click here for the HTML version.
"Federal Sentencing Under the Advisory Guidelines: A Primer for the Occasional Federal Practitioner - Part 1", The Champion, July 2008 (PDF)
Click here for the HTML version.
"Federal Sentencing Under the Advisory Guidelines: A Primer for the Occasional Federal Practitioner - Part 2", The Champion, November-December 2008 (PDF)
Click here for the HTML version.
"BOP Health Care: What You (and Your Clients) Need to Know", ABA Criminal Justice, Winter 2009(PDF)
Click here for the HTML version.
"BOP Designations Based on Medical Need", ABA Criminal Justice, Fall 2008 (PDF)
"Healthcare In The Federal Prison System", ABA Criminal Justice, Summer 2008 (PDF)
"Securing the Best Placement and Earliest Release", ABA Criminal Justice, Winter 2008 (PDF)
"Bureau of Prisons Revamps Prison Designation Process", The Champion, December 2007 (PDF)
"Maximize Benefit of Client's Cooperation with Government", ABA Criminal Justice, Fall 2007 (PDF)
"Inside Baseball: Interview with Former Federal Probation Officer," ABA Criminal Justice, Winter 2007 (PDF)
"Federal Sentencing Practice Tips: Effects Of United States V. Booker, et al.," Verdict Magazine, January 2007 (PDF)
"ABA Practice Tips: Part 3," ABA Criminal Justice, Fall 2006 (PDF)
"Americans Arrested Abroad," ABA Criminal Justice, Summer 2006 (PDF)
"ABA Practice Tips: Part 2," ABA Criminal Justice, Spring 2006 (PDF)
"Reducing Recidivism: The Bureau of Prisons' Comprehensive Residential Drug Abuse Program" The Champion, July 2006 (PDF)
"Securing a Favorable Federal Prison Placement", The Champion, April 2006 (PDF)
"ABA Practice Tips: Part 1," ABA Criminal Justice, Winter 2006 (PDF)
"Representing White Collar Clients In A Post-Booker World," The Champion, September/October 2005 (PDF)
"Interview with Alan Ellis," Corporate Crime Reporter, July 2005 (PDF)
"Expert Names Top Five Prisons For White-Collar Criminals," Corporate Crime Reporter, July 25, 2005 (PDF)
"Getting Out Early: BOP Drug Program," ABA Criminal Justice, Summer 2005 (PDF)
"Litigating In A Post-Booker World", ABA Criminal Justice, Spring 2005 (PDF)
"List of Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Programs (RDAP) In The BOP" (PDF)
"All About Booker: A Primer for Defendants, Family and Friends" (PDF)
"A 2255 and 2241 Primer: A Guide for Clients and their Family and Friends,"The Champion, April 2002
"A Federal Criminal Appeal Primer: A Guide for Clients and their Family and Friends,"Criminal Justice, Spring 2002
"Counseling Your Clients on Doing Time," ABA Criminal Justice, Winter 2002 (PDF)
"Baker's Dozen: Federal Sentencing Tips for the Experienced Advocate, Part II,"Criminal Justice, February 2001
"Baker's Dozen: Federal Sentencing Tips for the Experienced Advocate, Part I,"Criminal Justice, Winter 1997
"Apprehending and Appreciating Apprendi," Criminal Justice, January 2001
"Interview with Alan Ellis, Criminal Defense Attorney,"Interview in the Corporate Crime Reporter, March 6, 2000
"An Introduction to International Prisoner Transfers: Going Home,"The Champion, July 1999
"Answering the 'Why' Question: The Powerful Departure Grounds of Diminished Capacity, Aberrant Behavior, and Post-Offense Rehabilitation,"Federal Sentencing Reporter, May/June 1999
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Part 7, Family Ties and Responsibilities,"Criminal Justice, Summer 1999
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Part 6, Substantial Assistance,"Criminal Justice, Spring 1999
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Part 5, Combination of Factors,"Criminal Justice, Winter 1999
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Part 4, Civic, Charitable, or Public Service,"Criminal Justice, Fall 1998
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Part 3, Aberrant Behavior,"Criminal Justice, Summer 1998
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Part 2, Post-offense Rehabilitation,"Criminal Justice, Spring 1998
"Let Judges Be Judges! Post-Koon Downward Departures: Diminished Capacity,"Criminal Justice, Winter 1998
"Federal Felony Conviction, Collateral Civil Disabilities," Criminal Justice, Fall 1996
"An Introduction to the Federal Parole System", 1987 (PDF)
Editorials
"A Sporting Chance", Cal Law online publication, Summer 2008
Click here for the HTML version.
"A war on drugs – or on Blacks?", The San Diego Union, December 8, 1991
"Crime Bill Undermines Centuries-Old Protections", San Francisco Chronicle, October 29, 1991
"Don’t Undermine Habeas Corpus", The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, November 1, 1991
"Vital Legal Protection Is In Jeopardy", Chicago Tribune, November 14, 1991
"Time to Draw the Line On Police Power", San Francisco Chronicle, March 29, 1991
"Racism and Injustice In the Criminal Justice System", San Francisco Chronicle, May 1, 1992
"Racism in the Criminal Justice System", Oakland Tribune, July 21, 1991
"A Glaring Contrast: Criminal Justice in Black and White", The Wall Street Journal, May 14, 1992
Interviews
"Where Does Bernie Go From Here? Part II With Lawyer Alan Ellis," The Wall Street Journal, June 29, 2009 (PDF)
"Prison survival tips for Madoff," CNNMoney.com, June 29, 2009 (PDF)
"More on Madoff: Talking Life Behind Bars, with Lawyer Alan Ellis," The Wall Street Journal, March 12, 2009 (PDF)
"Tiburon lawyer sees progress in China," www.marinij.com, Augest 22, 2008
"Best Places To Go To Prison," Forbes, April 18, 2006
"White-collar offenders shop the system for a prison," Kansas City Star, March 10, 2006 (PDF)
"Interview with Alan Ellis," Corporate Crime Reporter, July 2005 (PDF)
"How To Do Time," Federal Prison Guidebook, 2002
"Corporate Crime Reporter Interview", 2000
