Somebody Help Me!

A level headed person will say, “It’ll never happen to me,” but when the unthinkable becomes an interloper what follows is a desperate cry. It’s always the same, “Somebody help me!” Human nature is predictable, and the rationalization is meaningful. How can a person face impossible odds without believing, “It’ll never happen to me?” Clearly an irrational belief, but an important ingredient that fuels courage. There wouldn’t be a hero in the world without the phrase, “It’ll never happen to me.”

I am no hero, but I thought the same thing, “It’ll never happen to me.” Then it did. I’ve never pursued a criminal lifestyle, but I’m a convicted felon. I believe I’m a patriot, but this experience has made me question my loyalty to this great nation. I have never been unemployed until the pandemic visited my doorstep, and I wonder, “Why work if the government will destroy it?” It’ll never happen to me, then it did. I have a last chance to affect the outcome of my guilty plea at sentencing, and I’d better make it count.

It seems to me our legal system is needlessly complicated. I’m a reasonably smart guy, and I find the criminal justice process confusing and counter intuitive. The sentencing mitigation phase is no less complicated, “How does a person make a presentation to a judge when he’s not allowed to speak directly with the judge?” There isn’t a rulebook or substantive guidance. I instinctively understood I was not going to be effective without expert guidance.

I began a crash course in mitigation education. I enrolled in a CLE class offered by LexDirectCLE, ‘Criminal Mitigation: Rethinking Presentencing Strategies.’ I received the Certificate of CLE Program Completion. I read the book, ‘Handbook of Mitigation in Criminal and Immigration Forensics: Humanizing the Client Towards a Better Legal Outcome,’ by Mark S. Silver. I spoke with the author at length, but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit. The author’s area of expertise is mitigating immigration cases. I needed a white collar criminal expert. I stumbled upon White Collar Advisers.

I learned of the book, ‘Lessons from Prison,’ by Justin Paperny. I downloaded a copy and read it cover to cover. I became gravely concerned for my wellbeing at the hands of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Being an older gentleman approaching sixty and subject to BOP policy is not an appealing proposition.

I invested in the, ‘Straight-A Guide, Sentence Mitigation Course,’ by Prison Professors, a ten week course that illustrates the process of developing a sentence mitigation plan. It has been an exceptional resource, and I began to see the value proposition of working with Prison Professors. I learned of the value a personal narrative can bring to the table and began drafting a personal letter. My lack of mitigation experience made the process cumbersome and largely unproductive. It became genuinely overwhelming. I hired the professionals at Compliance Mitigation to help me. I prepared my notes, and surrendered to the intimate probe of questions they asked during the interview process. I remember thinking, “Who needs a shrink when you have these guys?” My interview with Compliance Mitigation was extraordinarily comprehensive, intrusive and reminiscent of therapy. I was embarrassed by the depth of private detail solicited in the questionnaire, but I set aside my inhibitions and opened up.

The result was a polished narrative that describes me with profound accuracy. I came to understand this is my best hope for a favorable outcome in court, and I believe the same methodology used by Compliance Mitigation would be a useful tool to build a stronger union between me and my wife. I will face whatever sentence society and my judge deem appropriate, and I will use this experience to fortify my matrimonial bonds. I can survive prison, and I will use the criminal justice system to salvage my relationship with the woman I love. I couldn’t do my personal narrative alone, and I cannot allow this criminal justice experience to destroy my marriage.

The unthinkable knocked at my door, and my wife stepped forward too. This has become the unvarnished journey of a husband and wife desperate to save their marriage, and survive the criminal justice system. We found harmony in the pages of the ‘Straight-A Guide Sentence Mitigation Course,’ and the 'Handbook of Mitigation in Criminal and Immigration Forensics.' How can a mitigation guide be used as a marriage manual? I know this, a woman loves to share in the masculinity of her man. At some point, the BOP may control my body, but I will not surrender my mind, love or relationships. I will become a better man and husband. The journey begins.