Breaking Federal Prison News: President Bush Signed Into Law 'The Second Chance Act of 2007' on April 9, 2008, Allowing the Federal Bureau of Prison

(PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- Federal Prison Consultants, LLC summarizes below "The Second Chance Act of 2007" into potential release benefits for federal prison and some state prison inmates and is available as advocates for federal and state prisoners, their families and criminal defense attorneys. With over 200 years of combined experience on staff, Federal Prison Consultants can assist with eligibility and advocate for the maximum release benefits available.

The Second Chance Act primarily authorizes federal funding for state and federal reentry programs. It also directs -- but does not require -- the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to consider giving federal prisoners longer stays in halfway houses, and authorizes funds for a very limited test program for elderly prisoners. The "second chance" the bill refers to applies almost exclusively to people leaving prison -- it does not give shorter sentences to people already in prison.

With few exceptions, the bill is designed to provide programs that help people leaving prison reenter their communities, so that they do not reoffend.

Only three parts of the bill may be able to affect how long a person stays in prison. These three parts only affect people in federal prison:

1. The first lengthens the outer limits of the time an individual is guaranteed consideration for prerelease community corrections (halfway house) from six months to 12 months. However, there is no new requirement that the BOP give every person the full 12 months in a halfway house at the end of their sentence.

2. The second creates a limited pilot program called the Elderly and Family Reunification for Certain Nonviolent Offenders provision. This provision will likely only take place in one facility and is unlikely to provide relief for many individuals.

3. Finally, the bill increases slightly the percentage of a federal sentence that can be served in home confinement. There is no requirement that the BOP give prisoners any time in home confinement.

The Second Chance Act authorizes funding for:

1. Existing demonstration and long-term adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry programs (does not apply to federal prisons), including:

? Existing adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects (includes educational, literacy, vocational and job placement services; a full continuum of substance abuse treatment services; and provision of comprehensive services upon reentry including mental and physical health care).

? New grants to states, tribal and local reentry courts for demonstration programs that would monitor juvenile and adult offenders reentering the community and provide them with coordinated and comprehensive reentry services and programs, including: coordinated and comprehensive reentry services and programs including drug and alcohol testing and health services and assessment; community impact panels and victim impact classes; and community services to juvenile and adult offenders, including housing assistance, education, job training and conflict intervention skills.

? Development, implementation or expansion of state, tribal or local demonstration drug treatment programs that are alternatives to imprisonment.

? Development, implementation or expansion of comprehensive and clinically appropriate family based demonstration substance abuse treatment programs as alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent parent drug offenders or prison-based family treatment programs for incarcerated parents of minor children.

? Improvements in education at state, tribal, and local prisons, jails and juvenile facilities.

? Technology career training demonstration programs.

2. Enhanced drug treatment and mentoring programs, including

? Continued and improved drug treatment programs at state, tribal and local prisons, jails or juvenile facilities. (Does not apply to federal prisons.)

? Nonprofit and tribal initiatives to provide mentoring and other transitional services. (Does not apply to federal prisons.)

? Nonprofit initiatives to provide mentoring, job training, and job placement services to eligible offenders (over the age of 18 and never convicted of a violent or a sex-related offense). (Applies to both federal and state prisons.)

3. Improved federal offender reentry (applies to federal prisons only), including:

? Demonstration programs that establish a federal prisoner reentry strategy.

? Assistance to prisoners with obtaining identification prior to release.

? A pilot program called "Elderly and Family Reunification for Certain Nonviolent Offenders." This program will probably take place at a single facility designated by the Attorney General and will allow eligible elderly offenders who have served ten years or more of a long sentence to serve out the remainder of their terms in home detention.

? A demonstration program to supervise high risk individuals in community corrections facilities and home confinement.

4. Reentry research

? Funding for research on juvenile and adult offender reentry, post-incarceration supervision violations and revocations, the needs of incarcerated parents, and the effectiveness of depot naltrexone for heroin addiction.

5. Community corrections (applies to federal prisons only)

? The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) shall ensure that a prisoner serving a term of imprisonments spends a portion of the final months of that term (not to exceed 12 months) in a community correctional facility or appropriate conditions that will afford the prisoner a reasonable opportunity to adjust and prepare for the reentry of that prisoner to the community. The BOP may place a prisoner in home confinement for the shorter of 10 percent of the term of imprisonment or six months.

For more information or to get help with these new programs, please contact Ed Bales, Managing Director of Federal Prison Consultants, LLC at Toll-Free 1-888-5-PRISON. Federal Prison Consultants, LLC is a full-service Federal & State Advocacy Firm with over 200 years of combined experience on staff.

Los Angeles, Calif. (PRWEB) April 15, 2008 -- Mr. Myles L. Berman, whose gift established the Chicago-Kent College of Law Top Gun DUI Defense Attorney® Myles L. Berman Endowed Scholarship, announced today the recipients for 2007-2008 and 2006-2007 academic years. This Scholarship was established in 1999 by Myles L. Berman and is managed by Chicago-Kent College of Law. The Endowment provides financial assistance to students from Southern California based on academic merit and financial need.

The 2007-2008 Scholarship recipient is Kimberly Muehleisen. Ms. Muehleisen grew up in San Diego, California. She is a 2004 graduate of Westmont College in Santa Barbara. She is currently a first year student at Chicago-Kent College of Law and will graduate in May 2010 and has benefited greatly from the financial support this scholarship affords.

The 2006-2007 Scholarship recipient is Sara Lee. Ms. Lee grew up in Los Gatos, California. She graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2002. She is currently a second year student at Chicago-Kent College of Law and will graduate in May 2009. Sara commented, "The cost of tuition, books and materials, and living expenses is daunting. I truly appreciate the financial support that your scholarship provides."

Myles L. Berman commented, "It is an honor to team up with Chicago-Kent College of Law to provide much needed financial support to deserving students and I look forward to the achievements of these outstanding future attorneys."

Myles L. Berman graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1979 and the University of Illinois in 1976. He was admitted to the State Bar of Illinois in 1980 and the State Bar of California in 1987. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Federal District Court-Northern District of Illinois, the Federal District Court-Central District of California, the Federal District Court-Northern District of California and the Federal District Court-Southern District of California. Myles L. Berman is a successful, aggressive DUI / Drunk Driving defense lawyer with a national reputation for successfully representing many of his clients charged with DUI / Drunk Driving in Southern California. He is the founder of the National Drunk Driving Defense Task Force, LLC.®. Myles L. Berman lectures extensively in the area of defending people accused of DUI / Drunk Driving before various Bar associations, law schools, police agencies and criminal defense lawyers' associations. Myles L. Berman is listed in Who's Who in California, Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who in the World. Myles L. Berman has been a criminal defense attorney since 1982.

Chicago-Kent College of Law is the law school of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), a private, Ph.D.-granting institution with programs in engineering, psychology, architecture, business, design and law. With more than 1,100 students, Chicago-Kent College of Law offers full-time and part-time J.D. and LL.M. degree programs as well as joint-degree programs with other IIT units, including Stuart School of Business.

Offices in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties:

9255 Sunset Blvd, Ste. 720, Los Angeles, CA 90069 ? 4665 MacArthur Ct., Ste. 240, Newport Beach, CA 92660 ? 3075 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Ste. 9, Westlake Village, CA 91362 ? Toll Free # 888-4-TOPGUN

Design Veteran Cathy Law Joins Carolina Pad and Paper as Senior Designer

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) April 14, 2008 -- Carolina Pad and Paper (CPP), a leading supplier of fashion school and office products, recently hired Cathy Law as senior designer. Law, who brings an extensive background in graphics art and illustration to the company, will work with the CPP Marketing Department's creative team in the arts and craft segment. Law's experience in character development will offer fresh design perspectives, giving CPP opportunities to broaden its scope of product offerings in other segments as well, including school and office.

Law's accomplishments include assisting in new product development and developing design and illustration concepts for advertising, television, greeting cards, and children's product. "We're delighted to have Cathy join our team," said CPP Creative Director Beth Funston. "Cathy is a talented designer and we are especially eager to utilize her background to explore new avenues of product design."

For the past four years, Law has worked as a freelancer, performing design and illustration work for a variety of clients including Hallmark Cards, Chronicle Books, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Inc., and Target. She spent the previous 15 years at Hallmark in a variety of capacities, most recently as senior designer. In that role, she served as part of the creative team that conceived and produced the company's "Fresh Ink" card product. Before that, she worked in the company's humor division, Shoebox Greetings, where she helped develop ideas for greeting cards and party and giftware product.

Law received her bachelor's of fine arts in graphic design and illustration from the University of Kansas.

HelpMeSue.com Launches Service Helping Americans Find Attorneys and File Lawsuits

San Francisco (PRWEB) April 14, 2008 -- Today HelpMeSue.com (www.HelpMeSue.com) announced the commercial launch of its new service to quickly connect Americans with legal disputes to concerned citizens and lawyers who can help. Officially launching on April 14th, 2008, HelpMeSue.com is designed to help average Americans test the merits of potential lawsuits easily and anonymously, while driving high-quality leads to partner law firms.

For people who want to sue - plaintiffs - HelpMeSue.com is a free service. Plaintiffs can quickly and anonymously post the details of their case online. Lawyers and concerned citizens can then publicly reply, offering advice and opinions on the merits of the case through our proprietary public messaging system. Lawyers who wish to bid on the case can contact the plaintiff privately. The plaintiffs have the choice to remain anonymous throughout the entire process.

"Throughout our 15-week public beta period, potential plaintiffs submitted over 500 lawsuits. Lawyers and concerned citizens submitted thousands of comments. HelpMeSue.com continuously refined our service by working closely with both plaintiffs and law firms to customize our services to their needs," said Brian Schneider, co-founder of HelpMeSue.com."

With cases ranging from elder abuse and child welfare to personal injury, defamation, and consumer protections, HelpMeSue.com has proven the ideal platform for Americans of all stripes to voice their legal grievances and receive free, anonymous, and fast feedback on their lawsuits' merits. Listening to customer feedback, HelpMeSue.com also developed a class action feature that helps law firms quickly and easily review class actions, and if interested, contact class members.

Law firms also benefit from HelpMeSue.com's services. By scanning HelpMeSue.com's website or signing up for our RSS feeds, lawyers can quickly and easily find cases that are near them and in their fields of expertise. By frequently commenting and offering advice on cases publicly - even if the case is outside of their area - lawyers are able to establish a strong online reputation, which similar to feedback systems on e-commerce sites, help drive preference for the law firm's brand. Currently, HelpMeSue.com's services are completely free for attorneys and their firms.

Affecting positive social change was a key driver behind HelpMeSue.com's founding. "We wanted to make a social impact by using technology to help everyday people solve legal disputes. Americans have a fantastic legal system at their disposal, but over years the system has become overrun by jargon, difficult to navigate, and dominated by rich individuals and powerful corporations. The end result is that the average American is simply cannot afford the time, effort, and money involved in finding the best legal advice for their specific case," said Kevin Yu, co-founder of HelpMeSue.com

By enabling average Americans to share their legal concerns quickly and anonymously, HelpMeSue.com allows everyday folks to retake control of the legal system. By encouraging law firms to share their knowledge publicly, HelpMeSue.com helps lawyers build an online reputation, making it easier for them to acquire customers from HelpMeSue.com's case flow.

As co-founder Brian Schneider says, "Our goal with HelpMeSue.com is not just to help folks get the settlements that they deserve - monetary and otherwise; it's really to shake up the entire legal system by making it easier to access by all parties, and thereby more efficient overall."

About HelpMeSue.com:

Founded in 2007, HelpMeSue.com simplifies the chore of finding legal representation; enabling a plaintiff to quickly, easily, and anonymously seek help from multiple lawyers and concerned citizens online. HelpMeSue.com does this by providing the leading system of choice for online demand aggregation for the legal services industry. Since its inception, HelpMeSue.com has been focused enabling more middle-class Americans to affordably seek legal help while benefiting smaller law firms by providing a book of relevant cases for them to directly bid on. HelpMeSue.com is headquartered in Los Alamitos, California.

Contact:

Kevin Yu, co-founder

HelpMeSue.com

kevin @ helpmesue.com

North Highlands, CA (PRWEB) April 16, 2008 -- In keeping with the latest technology, the attorneys at Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation (http://www.ronideutch.com/) have embraced Avvo.com, a site that allows visitors to find the perfect lawyer for their issue and, subsequently, rate their performance.

"As the nation's largest tax resolution law firm we are committed to helping taxpayers across the country," notes Managing Attorney Justin Hein. "Avvo.com is a unique web property that sparked our interest a few months ago. They not only provide detailed reviews on nearly all the attorneys in this country, but they also have tools to help educate visitors like Avvo Answers. I claimed my profile a while ago, and knew it was only a matter of time before our whole law firm would embrace the site."

Staying current with technology has always been important to Roni Deutch. In 1998, Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation became one of the first law firms in the nation to employ a dedicated Information Technology department providing in house custom designed software for the firm. Her first website went live on February 23, 2006 to reach out to thousands of additional clients looking for help with their taxes online. Soon after Ms. Deutch took on blogger and launched The Tax Lady blog that received nearly 8,000 hits in the month of March.

"As the Internet revolution continues, people are going online at record paces to get the information, and entertainment, that they desire," notes The Tax Lady Roni Deutch. "My law firm strives to maintain its status as an industry leader in the online world. We have websites, blogs, accounts on MySpace, YouTube, Digg, and dozens of other web properties. The Internet is constantly evolving and we are actively participating in the revolution."

"We are excited to embrace Avvo as it will further help my law firm demonstrate its commitment to fighting the IRS," continued Deutch. "My attorneys and I are leaders in the field of tax law. We know how to deal with IRS collections and I am confident that by participating in Avvo we will be able to further share our expertise with the world."

One popular feature on Avvo is their lawyer review that lets visitors share their experiences with the lawyers featured on the site. Also popular is Avvo's rating system. Using a secret formula, Avvo is attempting to rate each attorney across the country using an impartial measuring system. Avvo rates Ms. Deutch at 8.5, which Avvo deems as "Excellent" (i.e. 8.0 to 8.9) under Avvo's rating rubric. You can check out her profile by going to Avvo.com: Roni Lynn Deutch (http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/95660-ca-roni-deutch-244870.html).

Millions of people recognize tax attorney Roni Deutch as The Tax Lady. She has been helping taxpayers nationwide resolve their tax liabilities for nearly seventeen years. As an industry leader, she saved her clients tens of millions of dollars and has helped thousands of families settle their back taxes.

About Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation

Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation is a nationally recognized law firm that has been helping clients find solutions to their back tax liabilities for over sixteen years. To find out more about the firm or its IRS tax relief services, visit their website at RoniDeutch.com or call 1-888-TAX-LADY. To learn more about The Tax Lady Roni Deutch you can visit her blog (http://www.rdtcfranchise.com/).

Contact:

Mathew Guiver

Roni Lynn Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation

877-232-8477 Ext. 1914

One Legal Announces Launch of National Court Document Retrieval Service

Novato, CA (PRWEB) April 14, 2008 -- www.onelegal.com - One Legal LLC, the California-based pioneer in online court services, today launched nationwide court research (http://www.onelegal.com/CourtResearch.aspx) and document retrieval services. Litigation professionals can now research civil cases and retrieve documents in all 50 states and the District of Columbia using OneLegal.com, while benefiting from electronic delivery/notification and best-in-class service.

Litigation matters are time-sensitive and require efficient handling. Orders placed on OneLegal.com are immediately routed to a local court specialist for fulfillment, and users stay informed of order status via electronic notification. Research results and documents are sent to customers electronically and made available online - ensuring efficient order processing and facilitating convenient document sharing.

"One Legal has prided itself on being a full-service provider of online court services for more than 15,000 law firms. Our customers are extremely loyal because they know we'll meet their tight deadlines, even for last minute requests, without sacrificing quality," says Bob Battaglia, CEO and co-founder of One Legal. "Now, we can begin to offer that same level of service throughout the United States."

In December 2007, One Legal formed a strategic partnership with CT--the market leader for corporate compliance and governance, UCC, matter management, e-billing, litigation support, electronic discovery and trademark research solutions--to further its network of providers. CT has an extensive network of service specialists nationwide and over 100 years of experience and expertise working locally with state and county governments. By combining CT's strengths with One Legal's exceptional service and technology, litigation professionals now have a comprehensive and reliable solution for all of their court research and document retrieval needs.

"The One Legal and CT partnership leverages the strengths of both companies," said Gene Landoe, president & CEO of CT and Wolters Kluwer Corporate Legal Services. "Access to CT's nationwide resources and knowledgeable local expertise will enable One Legal to offer its customers court research and document retrieval services anywhere in the U.S. with the same quality they have come to expect from One Legal."

The court research and document retrieval launch marks the first of several national offerings that will be unveiled by One Legal in 2008.

About One Legal

Founded in 1990 as Fax & File Legal Services, Inc., One Legal was the first company in the USA to file an electronically transmitted (faxed) court document with a state court. Since then, the company has filed millions of court documents through its company-owned branches. One Legal has a customer base of more than 15,000 accounts with law firms, corporations, insurance carriers and state and local agencies. It currently offers traditional court filing (http://www.onelegal.com/CourtFiling.aspx), as well as eService and eFiling (http://www.onelegal.com/eServices.aspx) in California and Texas, with planned expansion into other states. One Legal LLC is headquartered in Novato, Calif. with offices throughout the state as well as in Texas. More information about One Legal can be found on the company's web site at www.onelegal.com.

About CT

CT, a Wolters Kluwer business, provides quality software and service solutions that legal professionals can rely upon to more effectively manage dynamic information, speed workflows and make critical decisions. CT is the market leader for corporate compliance and governance services and solutions, including solutions for managing statutory representation, corporate transactions, and jurisdictional and securities compliance; UCC products and services for corporate due diligence, secured lending, bankruptcy, and real estate, among other areas; matter management and e-billing applications, litigation support software, and electronic discovery; and innovative trademark research offerings. CT is based in New York City. For more information, please visit www.ctlegalsolutions.com.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a leading global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services globally for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal, and regulatory sectors. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2007) of ?3.4 billion ($4.8 billion), maintains operations in over 33 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific and employs approximately 19,544 people worldwide. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Visit www.wolterskluwer.com for information about our market positions, customers, brands, and organization.