Pre-Sentence Report Examination

The Pre-Sentencing Investigation Report (PSR) is the single most dominant and definitive document in determining your federal prison sentence, federal prison designation, and the quality of life enhancements while you are in federal prison. The PSR is your "Bible", your life history as seen through the eyes of the Probation Officer that authors it in concert with the Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA).

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Unfortunately, the Probation Officer authoring the Pre-Sentencing Investigation Report is employed by the Department of Justice and works for the prosecutor/judge. It is extremely important that all information given by the defendant is truthful, accurate, and complete. The defendant must know the extent of the information he will be asked. It is extremely useful if the defendant is totally prepared for this interview and has all the materials and documents that will be requested of him. This will certainly decrease any subsequent personal or telephone follow-up interviews. The defendant must make sure that his PSR is accurate and complete before he enters federal prison.

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The defendant and his counsel will have an opportunity to make corrections to the PSR and they must. Inaccurate information on the PSR will haunt the prisoner throughout his period in federal prison. There are many adverse consequences that may result from inaccurate information on the Pre-Sentencing Investigation Report. He may be denied a lower security level, a lower custody level, and may even be denied intial designation or transfer to a lower security Federal Prison Camp, even though he qualifies. He may also be denied access to certain Bureau of Prison’s programs such as the 500-Hour Residential Drug Abuse Program.

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Prisoners often complain that they have been negatively impacted by inaccurate information in their PSR. A number of inmates at a federal prison were recently asked how many were affected negatively by errors in their PSR. Eighty-five (85%) percent responded that they were negatively affected by errors in their PSR. The eighty-five (85%) percent that responded were then asked how many were told by their attorney that the errors would have no detrimental effect or consequences. Almost one hundred (100%) percent raised their hands. I cannot emphasize too strongly that the defendant must make sure that any errors in the PSR, his "Bible", are corrected before he enters federal prison. This is where PCG can offer assistance. As part of our program we offer Pre-Sentence Report Examination. We review your Pre-Sentence Investigation Report in concert with your attorney and offer recommendations on those items which may negatively affect your life in federal prison. There may be errors or omissions in the Pre-Sentence Investigation Report which must be corrected. There may be statements in direct opposition of the information provided to the Probation Officer. There may be other issues which need to be explained in more detail and corrected. The bottom line is that these mistakes, errors, omissions, and oversights must be corrected. The Judge will provide an opportunity for the client through his attorney to submit a listing of his objections to the U.S. Probation Department report. The U.S. Probation Department will then respond to these objections. Any unresolved objections will be resolved and determined by the Court. It is in the defendant’s best interest that he aggressively and proactively address all the errors in his PSR so that he is not negatively affected during his federal prison experience. The Prison Consulting Group will help.

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