Criminal Defense Blog

Christopher Zoukis, JD | July 7, 2024 | Advocacy and Reform

The New York-based Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) is one of the largest prison-based higher education programs of its kind.  While serving their prison sentences, participants study rigorous coursework and work toward earning college degrees.  The program offers access to higher education to both incarcerated men and women who want to pursue their education and increase […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | July 7, 2024 | Advocacy and Reform

After nearly 40 years of unprecedented growth, our nation’s expanding prison population has finally begun to sputter. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010 marked the first year since 1972 in which, taken together, state and federal correctional populations declined slightly – a trend that continued in 2011. This modest reduction reflects revisions to […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | July 7, 2024 | Advocacy and Reform

By John Jay Powers Jack Powers is an inmate in the federal Bureau of Prisons convicted of bank robbery and escaping from prison. He spent more than a decade in extreme isolation at the ADX, where he amputated his fingers, earlobes, a testicle, and scrotum. He has tried several times to commit suicide. “The world outside is […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | June 11, 2024 | Crime and Justice

The concept of “criminogenic” is central to understanding what drives individuals toward criminal behavior—and, more importantly, how to prevent it. By exploring the meaning of criminogenic, identifying key criminogenic needs and risk factors, and examining the role of dynamic risk factors, we gain valuable insight into the root causes of crime. This understanding forms the […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | November 3, 2023 | Prison Life

Following Sam Bankman Fried’s November 2, 2023, guilty jury verdicts, all eyes are turning toward his March 28, 2024, sentencing. Likewise, many are wondering where SBF will serve his time in federal prison. This article discusses the Bureau’s designation policies, likely facility placement, and what Sam Bankman-Fried’s life will be like in federal prison. Sam […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | August 7, 2023 | News

Effective February 1, 2011, the Federal Bureau of Prisons instituted a national policy in regard to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) collection. This policy was promulgated under Program Statement #5311.01, entitled “Inmate DNA Sample Collection Procedures.” According to the Program Statement, “DNA analysis provides a powerful tool for human identification. DNA samples collected from individuals or derived […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | July 17, 2023 | Crime and Justice

Everyone’s had frustrating work experiences. In those situations, it’s tempting to jump ship and work for someone else. In the heat of the moment, acquiring and redistributing closely held knowledge to a competitor can seem like a good idea. However, it constitutes a theft of trade secrets, and if you aren’t careful, it can cost […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | July 17, 2023 | Crime and Justice

Real estate fraud is a hefty offense that can bring the weight of the law down on the accused. Because it is a federal crime, there are burdensome penalties that come along with a conviction.  If you find yourself in the situation of being accused of real estate fraud, it’s critical to know the details […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | July 14, 2023 | News

A federal lawsuit alleging wrongful arrest and imprisonment by the LAPD settled for $320,000 on January 16, 2007. The case involved the murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla, who was shot and killed outside her Sun Valley, California home. Puebla was murdered just 11 days after she testified against Jose Ledesma in a gang murder prosecution. […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | June 15, 2023 | Educational Programs

In the realm of prisoners’ rights and support, several organizations stand out from the rest. CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) is one of these organizations. In the hope that you’ll consider becoming a member of CURE or making a donation to their most worthy cause, I am enclosing the text from their “Questions […]