- The Commission promulgates guidelines that judges consult when sentencing federal offenders. When the guidelines are amended, a subsequent Guidelines Manual is published.
- In this section, you will find the Commission’s comprehensive archive of yearly amendments and Guidelines Manuals dating back to 1987.
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(August 5, 2022) Acting Chair Judge Charles Breyer and incoming Chair, Judge Carlton W. Reeves applaud Senate confirmation of new commissioners as the Commission regains a quorum for the first time in over three years enabling it to amend the federal sentencing guidelines and issue sentencing policy.
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(July 26, 2022) This report examines federal offenders age 50 or older and the crimes for which they were sentenced in fiscal year 2021. The report assesses whether age was given a special consideration at sentencing, and specifically focuses on three issues that could impact the sentencing of older offenders: age and infirmity, life expectancy, and the risk of recidivism.
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(July 26, 2022) This publication examines life sentences in the federal system using data from fiscal years 2016 through 2021.
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(July 20, 2022) This report examines the impact of the 2016 Illegal Reentry Guideline Amendment. The amendment (Amendment 802) represented the most comprehensive revision of a major guideline in 20 years.
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(July 14, 2022) This publication examines the nature and seriousness of federal firearms offenses, including whether the offenses involved violence, and whether the offenders have a history of engaging in violent criminal behavior.
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(July 12, 2022) Explore recent federal sentencing-related Supreme Court and appellate court decisions by circuit or topic using this interactive PDF. The latest issue covers January to June 2022.
About the Commission
The U.S. Sentencing Commission, a bipartisan, independent agency located in the judicial branch of government, was created by Congress in 1984 to reduce sentencing disparities and promote transparency and proportionality in sentencing.
The Commission collects, analyzes, and distributes a broad array of information on federal sentencing practices. The Commission also continuously establishes and amends sentencing guidelines for the judicial branch and assists the other branches in developing effective and efficient crime policy. Learn the basics of federal sentencing.
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Resources
Glossary of Sentencing TermsUnclear about some of the terms found in the Guidelines Manual? This glossary covers everything from “Abuse of Trust” to “Zone D”.
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Resources
Ask the HelpLineThe HelpLine assists judges, probation officers, and practitioners in understanding and applying the guidelines. You can submit your questions electronically or call us directly.
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Resources
Decision TreesHow do the guidelines apply in a case with multiple counts? How do you score criminal history convictions? Follow the decision trees to answer these questions.
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Resources
PrimersWant to learn more about relevant statutes, case law and guidelines on a specific topic? Discover our primers that focus on topics ranging from drug trafficking to criminal history to supervised release....
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Resources
WorksheetsUse these worksheets to help determine the applicable offense level, criminal history score, and guideline range in an individual offender’s case.
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Resources
Quick FactsQuick Facts publications give readers basic facts about a single area of federal crime in an easy-to-read, two-page format. The Commission releases new Quick Facts periodically.
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Research NotesResearch Notes give background information on the technical details of the Commission’s data collection process and provide answers to common data analysis questions.
Quick Facts