Sentencing Expertise

When the critical issue in a case comes down to humanizing a defendant, demonstrating the existence of exceptional mitigating factors or providing a range of alternatives to imprisonment, Dr. Sheila Balkan has a proven and extensive record in making a difference. Drawing on her expertise as a criminologist and her experience in over 4,000 criminal cases, Dr. Balkan employs insight, creativity, community resources and a wide range of tools to bring together the unique factors that warrant consideration in a particular sentencing. Her vast experience has been employed nationwide in both state and federal courts and has earned her the respect of judges and attorneys. As a pioneer in her field, attorneys count on Dr. Balkan to formulate a sentencing strategy.

Dr. Balkan's skill at quickly identifying mitigating factors and her interdisciplinary and holistic approach to working with defendants and their families has established her practice as singular and highly in demand. Dr. Balkan's approach includes finding treatment options, when indicated, matching client skills and interests to community service placements and even providing video documentaries to provide courts with first-hand evidence of specific sentencing issues when words alone do not adequately account for the drama of a client's life or the contribution that a client is making to the community. Cases are developed and presented using whatever means and methods best suit an individual client.