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Sentencing Strategies for Clients with Significant Health Issues
By J. Peter Shindel Jr.; Kevin E. Rahpael
A defense attorney just completed a long, hard-fought federal trial.
Despite the attorney’s best efforts, the jury returned a guilty verdict
against the client. Adding to the stress of the potential prison
sentence the client faces is the fact that the client is burdened by
serious health issues. Echoing the concerns of his spouse, the client
has even expressed the ultimate fear: “I will die in prison.” When
approaching a sentencing hearing under such circumstances, a client’s
serious health issues present opportunities for every defense attorney. A
working knowledge of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) policies
regarding the placement of infirm inmates and the delivery of healthcare
is an indispensible tool in a criminal defense attorney’s sentencing
arsenal. Such knowledge can either protect the client should he be
sentenced to a prison term or help avoid such a sentence altogether.
The Playing Field — The BOP Healthcare Program
Medical Classification Throu
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