Criminal Defense Blog

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 […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | August 6, 2022 | Prison Life

You can find over a hundred federal prisons in the United States today. However, these prisons aren’t equal; some are better than others regarding safety, comfort, and amenities. Knowing the best federal prisons for your unique situation is extremely helpful in ensuring you are assigned to the easiest and safest place for you to serve time. Learn more about […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | March 26, 2022 | Prison Life

All Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities permits inmate access to law libraries. This page explains prison law libraries, inmate access to law libraries, and how jailhouse lawyers can help. Federal Prison Law Libraries The law library is typically located adjacent to, or inside, the Education Department. It typically consists of Trust Fund Limited Inmate Communication […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | March 7, 2022 | Legal Rights

Inmates in federal prison can also secure an early release from prison through CARES Act home confinement. The Act’s name is the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. It was signed into law in March 2020. Essentially, the CARES Act allows select eligible inmates to be placed in home confinement during the federal COVID-19 state of […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | February 15, 2022 | Crime and Justice

When the FBI, lawyers, and news organizations refer to white-collar crimes, they are talking about crimes committed by businesses and organizations that violate public trust.  White-collar refers to the respected jobs where employees once dressed in managerial garbs, such as white shirts with ties. If you are accused of committing a white-collar crime, you are suspected […]

Christopher Zoukis, JD | December 27, 2018 | News

On October 18, 2018, the Washington Supreme Court fundamentally transformed juvenile justice through State v. Bassett, categorically declaring juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) unconstitutional under the state constitution. This landmark decision didn’t merely limit these sentences—it eliminated them entirely, establishing Washington as the national leader in protecting youth offenders from irredeemable punishment. For families navigating the […]