OUR NEW BOOK HAS LAUNCHED!
The Handbook for Mitigation by Victoria Rusk, introduces the concept of mitigation, a process to discover and present factors in a criminal defendant’s life that can influence sentencing and avoid harsh punishment.
WITH A FOREWORD BY TYNICE HALL
35 Year Federal Sentence commuted by President Donald J. Trump in 2020
“While I was incarcerated, Victoria started studying mitigation, and she explained it to me. I think if I’d had a mitigation specialist on my team, I wouldn’t have received thirty-five years in the penitentiary.”
— TYNICE HALL
Tynice Nicole Hall was unjustly sentenced in 2006 after she was convicted on various drug charges in Federal Court.
On Feb. 18, 2020, President Donald J. Trump commuted her sentence and she was released after 14 years in prison.
In her own words: “My lawyer never asked me about me. I kept thinking justice would prevail and I wanted to take my case to trial.”
OUR COMMITMENT TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM THROUGH MITIGATION
Heart of Justice LLC is an social enterprise group that offers mitigation for criminal defense cases. We merge criminal defense mitigation and community organizing -- a winning formula for all who are accused of crimes.
We believe that telling the life story of the accused reveals their humanity and gives judges or juries an opportunity to render fair and just punishments. Heart of Justice aims to restore integrity in the criminal justice system at the grassroot level by uniting, informing and empowering the practitioners of the mitigation field.
Heart of Justice is just that, the heart of justice for all.
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
Our country’s criminal justice system requires change. It’s happening, just not fast enough. Our system has been warped by baked-in inequalities and harsh punishments. Those who need the most suffer the most on a daily basis.
I believe that a defendant can be capable of helping themselves if they have effective tools and knowledge. Through mitigation, a “whole life” approach can give attorneys an in-depth look at the person they represent. It presents decision makers, prosecutors, judges and juries, with the information they need to understand “why”—often the most perplexing question to answer.
I wrote this book to share what I know about how powerful a tool mitigation is. I hope it will help everyone who wants to be a part of the solution.
REVIEWS BY TRIAL ATTORNEYS
Seasoned criminal attorneys agree on the value of The Handbook for Mitigation
This book is given as a gift to those who may face the daunting prospect of possibly losing their freedom. It teaches how the client’s story, and the powerful truth of their life and circumstances can make all the difference in obtaining Justice for them in the courts. It should be read by anyone facing charges as well as by those who love and support them.
Robert Wells, Criminal Defense Attorney
The most important piece of advocating for a criminal defendant is at sentencing. In drastic cases it can mean life or death. In other cases, it means the difference between a slow death behind bars or a reasonable sentence. The Handbook for Mitigation lies out the importance of mitigation, how to do it correctly.
Eric J. Allen, Criminal Defense Firm
This handbook will educate even the most experienced criminal defense attorney. Do yourself a favor and read the Table of Contents and ask yourself, "if I want to be the very best criminal defense attorney I can be, why not read this book?"
R.P. "Skip" Cornelius, Attorney at Law
UPCOMING HEART OF JUSTICE EVENTS
Each month we produce free mitigation resources for both law firms and the family members of people accused of crimes. Together we can inform the public of available resources to help all people receive the due process they deserve.