- 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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(November 30, 2021) This publication examines recidivism rates over an eight-year follow-up period of federal firearms offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to a term of probation in 2010.
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(November 8, 2021) In this special episode of Commission Chats, Acting Chair Breyer and the Director of Research and Data discuss the origin and particulars of JSIN, a new online data tool developed for federal sentencing judges.
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(October 28, 2021) The 2021 Guidelines Manual reprints the 2018 edition without changes to the guidelines, policy statements, and commentary; however, an updated Appendix B is provided containing the principal statutory provisions governing sentencing as of August 1, 2021. Printed copies of the new set will be distributed in early 2022.
A Message from Acting Chair Breyer
Guidelines Manual Annotated
Guidelines App -
(October 28, 2021) Federal Offenders Who Served in the Armed Forces studies veteran offenders and the extent to which military service is considered at sentencing.
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(October 13, 2021) Federal Sentencing of Child Pornography: Production Offenses is a follow-up to Federal Sentencing of Child Pornography: Non-Production Offenses released in June 2021. Both reports update and expand upon the Commission's 2012 report to the Congress.
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(October 20, 2021) The Office of General Counsel prepared a compilation of selected U.S. Supreme Court and appellate court cases on sentencing issues. You can also perform preliminary legal research (filter by circuit or topic) using the newly updated Case Law Concierge offered by the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice.
Selected Supreme Court Cases
Case Law Quarterly
Case Law Concierge
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
Upcoming Training EventsVirtual Sentencing Guidelines training is now open to a national audience! Sessions are available on a first come, first served basis to all members of the court family.
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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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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.
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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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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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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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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”.