Joseph Fawbush, Esq.
Joe Fawbush is a lawyer and writer who has written extensively on almost every legal practice area. A licensed attorney for over 12 years, Joe explains legal concepts and processes for consumers, as well as industry trends for attorneys and other legal professionals. In addition to his legal writing, over his career Joe has helped hundreds of small and mid-size law firms across the country improve their branding and marketing.
Joe is a graduate of St. Olaf College and the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He has represented clients in immigration matters, estate planning, and tax controversies. He is licensed in Minnesota. When not writing or talking about legal issues of the day, he spends time with his spouse and three young children
Latest Articles
How Much Time Will I Serve for Sexual Abuse?
Most crimes, including sex offenses, are handled at the state level. That’s because the federal government has left it to the states to enact their own criminal laws. A sex crime becomes a federal charge when the offense violates federal law or crosses state boundaries. As a result, the kind… Read More
How Much Time Will I Serve for Illegal Firearms Possession?
Federal prosecutors often use weapons enhancements in federal criminal cases as leverage to obtain plea bargains and cooperation from criminal defendants. According to the Department of Justice, federal firearms offenses are often… Read More
How Much Time Will I Serve for Arson?
Under federal law, an arson conviction can carry up to 10 years in federal prison, even if no one was hurt and the defendant set fire to their own property. The overwhelming majority of defendants convicted of arson will receive at least some prison time. The court may also issue… Read More
Are There Racial Disparities in Sentencing?
The U.S. continues to have the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world as of 2020. The Sentencing Project notes that Black children born in 2001 had a one-in-three chance of serving time at some point in their life, while white children had a one in seventeen chance. Read More
How Much Time Will I Serve for Assault?
Assault and battery are violent crimes that can carry significant penalties for a conviction. Assault can occur whenever there is the threat of violence. Battery means that there was physical contact. Typically, assault and battery are state crimes, but federal prosecutors will sometimes pursue assault charges in certain circumstances. It… Read More
Sentencing Statistics – Infographics
Below are infographics on federal sentencing that contain noteworthy facts and statistics about who is sentenced in federal court and for how long. The data is taken from the United States Sentencing Commission, an… Read More
How Much Time Will I Serve for Fraud and Related Crimes?
A conviction for fraud or a related crime comes with severe penalties that can affect your life, career, and freedom. While both state and federal laws prohibit fraud, embezzlement, and theft, white-collar criminal investigations are often prosecuted at the federal level. Generally, a conviction on federal fraud charges can mean… Read More
Sentencing Statistics
A lot goes into criminal sentencing, which is why no one can predict the exact sentence for any individual criminal defendant if they’re found guilty. However, it is possible to get a general idea of the potential sentence range for certain crimes based on various factors. These factors include: The… Read More
Your Constitutional Rights in Sentencing
While the sentencing process differs by state and in federal courts, fairness in the criminal justice system must be the ultimate goal. Every criminal defendant in the U.S. has certain fundamental rights regarding sentencing afforded by the U.S. Constitution. Just because they are fundamental rights does not mean they are… Read More
Three Strikes Laws
Three strikes laws are sentence enhancements for a third conviction for a serious or violent criminal offense. The “three strikes and you’re out” concept is intended to keep career criminals and violent offenders in prison. Originally, the law was named because “three-strike” defendants would be “out” – that is, given… Read More
