Compassion. Trust. Understanding. Professionalism. Hope.

It is no secret that Arizona has some of the toughest laws in the United States. As of 2004, the state of Arizona had the ninth highest incarceration rate per capita, in essence making it the incarceration capital of the western United States. In light of these staggering statistics, what could be more important than selecting the right person to provide effective and passionate advocacy in the preparation of a mitigation evaluation/memorandum for prosecutors and/or judges in regards to you or your loved one’s case? Sentence advocacy can make a huge difference in sentence outcome. I strongly believe that compassion, trust, understanding, professionalism, and hope are the core ingredients in achieving the best possible outcome for you or your loved one’s circumstances.

One of the most important functions of a mitigation specialist is to help all of the powerful players (prosecutors/judges/probation officers) within the system to understand the accused individual’s life story. The reason for this is that in order to fully grasp who the person is now, you must first become familiar with and develop an understanding of what came before. I strive to get to know each one of my clients and make a concerted effort to earn their trust as we work together in the preparation of their mitigation evaluation and memorandum. I focus my attention on the individual and the circumstances that have lead up to their current predicament.

One Size Does Not Fit All

I do not believe in employing a “cookie cutter” or “one size fits all” approach in regards to sentence advocacy; as all mitigation memorandums prepared by me are thoroughly investigated and carefully tailored to the individual client’s circumstances and goals. I am dedicated and highly committed to responsive and personalized service to meet the needs of each client.

Mitigation memorandums include the completion of a thorough investigation into the biographical, social and psychological history of the accused individual in an effort identify potential mitigating factors that should be presented as well as creating a “life story” presentation of the individual. This process typically includes interviewing family members, close friends, peers, and other social contacts of the accused individual in an effort to fill in all of the important pieces of the puzzle of the individual’s life experience. This process is crucial in the identification and development of mitigating factors.

In the infamous words of former United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, “Investigations into mitigating evidence should comprise efforts to discover all reasonable available mitigating evidence to rebut any aggravating evidence that may be introduced by the prosecutor.”  (Wiggins v. Smith)

My Background

Ginger Sirlin

The success of Sirlin Mitigation Services stems directly from my sincere commitment to each and every client that entrusts me with the task of preparing a mitigation evaluation/memorandum on their behalf. I graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. The focus of my Master’s  thesis was on that of mandatory minimum sentencing schemes, with a specific concentration on the negative social and financial impacts of these sentencing practices.

I currently provide capital and non-capital sentencing advocacy and mitigation services throughout the state of Arizona.  I am also an adjunct professor at Paradise Valley Community College in the Administration of Justice Department and a proud member of the National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates and Mitigation Specialists (NASAMS).

I have over twelve (12) years experience within the legal field, and during this time I have had the unique experience of gleaning knowledge and invaluable insight from working with individuals at all levels within the criminal justice system. I have worked at both large and small law firms, and through these experiences I have learned the importance of getting to know each and every client personally in an effort to provide the best form of sentence advocacy possible. I pride myself on my commitment to my clients.