Departures

In federal cases, Dr. Balkan has broad experience working with the federal sentencing guidelines and determining the best way to present the client as an individual. Downward departures have been crafted around nearly every applicable criterion, including:

• Family circumstances
• Physical disability
• Mental condition
• Post-offense rehabilitation
• History of community service
• Diminished capacity
• Cultural differences
• Aberrant behavior

"Dr. Balkan's insightful and thorough work at sentencing provided the foundation for a district judge to dramatically downwardly depart from incarceration to home detention, over the government's strenuous objections."

Nathan Hochman
Bingham McCutchen LLP
Los Angeles, CA

"Dr. Balkan possesses unique insight and uncanny intuition to identify and effectively communicate grounds for downward departures. She expertly weaves together facts to tell a client’s life story with compassion and clarity. She has helped me to obtain significantly reduced sentences for clients before some of the most formidable judges in the state and federal courts. She is a true miracle worker!"

Vicki Podberesky
Nasatir, Hirsch, Podberesky & Genego
Santa Monica, CA