Iowa State Prisons

This article covers what you need to know if a loved one is arrested and sentenced to prison. It will also help you understand and  navigate the prison process as well as inform you on: How to locate and communicate with the prisoner once arrested. How to find constructive ways to express your support and…

Each state has its criminal justice system made up of legislative bodies that enact criminal laws and the policing agencies that enforce them. The same is true for the federal criminal justice system. Federal Department of Justice The Department of Justice leads the federal justice system. The federal justice system has jurisdiction over crimes involving…

There are five legal grounds for deportation from the United States. This article focuses on deportation for committing and being found guilty of a serious statutory crime. Specific Categories of serious statutory crimes, including aggravated felonies, are also addressed in this article. Grounds For Deportation Five General Grounds For Deportation Include Entering the country without…

While the words jail and prison often overlap in American society, it's essential to know the difference between them. A jail is a temporary holding facility for people serving a relatively short prison sentence or awaiting trial. When a person first gets arrested, they are usually taken to jail. There, they will stay locked up…

Programs For Families in Financial Trouble Financial Hardship When a family member is incarcerated, it quickly becomes a financial hardship for the family left behind. Not only is there lost income, but the family also now has other costs associated with their loved one's incarceration, such as travel expenses related to visitation, communication expenses, child…

At the sentencing hearing, both the prosecutor and defense counsel will have reviewed the probation report and supporting documents and statements. Counsel will present their respective sentencing arguments to the court. The offender will also be present. The defense will argue there are mitigating circumstances supporting a reduced sentence, while the prosecution will argue there are aggravating factors to support an enhanced sentence.

There are many different types of criminal defense lawyers. Most spend their time in state courts defending clients in state criminal actions. Other criminal defense attorney practice in both federal and state courts. This article focuses mainly on the federal criminal defense attorney. Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys If you are a target in a federal…

The federal court system is made up of three interconnected judicial levels: 94 District Courts (Trial Courts), 13 Circuit Courts (Appellate Courts), 1 Supreme Court (Highest Court In The Land) District Courts - Federal Trial Courts The federal district courts are the federal trial courts. Each federal judicial district court has at least one Federal…

This article covers questions you may have on the pre-indictment phase in Federal Court. It covers the period before a Grand Jury is empaneled to hear the prosecutor's evidence against you based on their criminal investigation so far.  At this point, charges have not been filed, but prosecutors and agents will likely still investigate you.…

Due to today's search technology, nearly anyone has informational access to other people's lives, including whether someone has a criminal record. According to the American Progress for Justice, over 70 million Americans have a criminal record that can come- up on background checks. Criminal Records are Publicly Accessible Purpose of Expungement The primary purpose of expunging…

This article covers the concerns and questions white-collar criminal suspects have when facing federal criminal charges and possibly prison. Facing White Collar Criminal Charges Getting Your Questions Answered Should you be a criminal  target of a federal white-collar investigation, you will likely have many concerns and questions, such as: How does federal law enforcement investigate white-collar…

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice, administers the federal prison system. As of 2024, BOP operates 122 prison facilities nationwide, including minimum-security prison camps, medium-security correctional institutions, high-security penitentiaries, and administrative facilities that handle special needs. Locating a Prisoner in Federal Prison You can use the Federal…

Perhaps there is no more significant type of trouble than the one leading to prison. If you've been to prison before, you probably know what to expect and how to prepare for prison. But, if you have not been to prison, the idea of being locked up will likely cause confusion and extreme anxiety. People…