How Can A Federal Prisoner Get Help?
To find out whether a case fits the criteria and obtain assistance with a sentence reduction motion, the prisoner should contact the trial or appellate attorney who represented him/her. If the attorney is not able to help, the prisoner should write to the FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE in the district in which the prisoner was convicted and explain that the prisoner is unrepresented and wishes to seek a sentence reduction motion. No formal ruling has been made about whether prisoners are entitled to appointed counsel for these motions, but we believe that such a ruling is forthcoming. All of the Federal Public Defender’s offices are aware that the guideline has been made retroactive, effective March 3, 2008, and will likely be prepared to help.
