What Happens After Sentencing
If you receive a self-surrender date, you may still have access to your attorney after sentencing. However, if you are taken into custody immediately during sentencing, your attorney will usually be unable to assist you further once you're in the prison system.
Once the Bureau of Prisons assumes control, your contact with the outside world will be extremely limited until your release. This limitation isn’t due to any unwillingness on your attorney’s part, but rather because they lack practical experience with the realities of prison life.
Law school doesn't teach Federal Prison 101, and your attorney, having never been incarcerated, may not fully understand these challenges. On the other hand, Vitaly, with his extensive prison experience, can provide the insights and advice that a traditional attorney may not be able to offer.
Your Attorney's Knowledge of the BOP
Your attorney is likely unfamiliar with how the Bureau of Prisons calculates your time and may not know about the various programs available that could reduce your sentence.
The actual time you end up serving could be quite different from what your attorney projected. They might not be aware of the specific requirements needed to qualify for these programs.
Unfortunately, your attorney may have a misguided understanding of prison life and its inner workings. Relying on your attorney for guidance on navigating Federal Prison is like expecting a plumber to fix high blood pressure—each professional has their own expertise. Remember, your attorney has never served time themselves, so their perspective is limited to what they've observed during visits, which doesn’t capture the full reality.
Never Forget
Remember this: No matter how wealthy or well-known you might be on the outside, once you’re inside, you’re treated just like everyone else. There’s no special treatment or privileges. Whatever you had outside doesn’t matter; you become just another inmate in the Bureau of Prisons, with no special status or distinction.