Originally published April 19, 2021. Statements about the law were updated in October 2026; the box below gives today’s rules.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
In April 2021, a federal court in Alabama denied compassionate release to Lloyd M. Schaefer because of the violent nature of his crimes. He had robbed three banks, two of them at gunpoint. Cases like this show why a request needs to address the crime head-on.
United States v. Schaefer
United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Southern Division
2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 72515
The crimes
Mr. Schaefer pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. On October 15, 2010, he was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison.
In two of the three robberies, he threatened the bank teller with a gun. Before this, he had been convicted of resisting a police officer with violence and battery of a law enforcement officer.
Why the court said no
The “nature and circumstances” of the crime, meaning what happened and how serious it was, is a common reason courts deny compassionate release. If you want to succeed, it is important to address it with the court.
Mr. Schaefer asked the court for compassionate release. Because of the circumstances of his crimes, the court decided he did not meet the threshold requirement for further consideration, and it denied his request.
In a case like this, it can help to speak directly to the nature and circumstances of the crime (the 3553 factors) and to show what the person has done to change. That could have helped in seeking early release.
If you want help with a compassionate release request, book a consultation.