Federal Criminal Procedure & Sentencing Guide

By John Kirby

Federal Criminal Defense Attorney • Arizona • California • Federal Courts Nationwide

2026-06-25

Plain-English guides to federal criminal procedure, sentencing, and post-conviction relief. Select a topic below for a plain-English explanation.

Topics

• Federal Criminal Procedure — The Complete Overview
• Federal Grand Jury — What It Is And How It Works
• Federal Indictment — What It Means When You're Indicted
• Federal Arraignment — What Happens And What To Expect
• Federal Pretrial Detention — The Bail Reform Act Explained
• Federal Pretrial Release — How To Get Released Pending Trial
• Federal Discovery — What The Government Must Disclose
• Federal Motions — Motion To Suppress, Motion To Dismiss
• Federal Plea Agreements — How They Work And What To Know
• Federal Plea Colloquy — What Happens At A Change Of Plea Hearing
• Federal Jury Trial Process — Selection Through Verdict
• Federal Sentencing Guidelines — The Complete Guide
• Federal Offense Level Calculation — How It's Done
• Federal Criminal History Category — How It Affects Your Sentence
• Federal Sentencing Enhancements — What Adds Time
• Federal Sentencing Departures — When Judges Go Below The Guidelines
• Federal Presentence Investigation Report (PSR) — Complete Guide
• Federal Sentencing Hearing — What Happens And What To Expect
• Federal Supervised Release — Rules, Violations, And Consequences
• Federal Probation — When It Applies And How It Works
• Federal Direct Appeal — How The Appellate Process Works
• Federal Habeas Corpus — 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Motions
• Federal Post-Conviction Relief — Options After Conviction
• Federal Clemency — Pardons And Commutations Explained
• Federal Prison Designation — How BOP Assigns Facilities
• Federal Prison Programs — RDAP, Education, And Good Time Credit
• Federal First Step Act — What It Changed And Who Qualifies
• Federal Compassionate Release — 18 U.S.C. § 3582
• Federal Forfeiture — Civil And Criminal Asset Seizure
• Federal Restitution — How Victims Are Compensated