- 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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(September 13, 2021) The preliminary data in this report reflects information received on offenders sentenced through the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 (October 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021).
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(August 11, 2021) Explore the Summer 2021 edition of the Insider Express digital newsletter brought to you by the Office of Education and Sentencing Practice.
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(July 27, 2021) Case Law Quarterly summarizes select appellate court decisions that involve the guidelines and other aspects of federal sentencing.
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(July 14, 2021) This report provides an analysis of the compassionate release motions filed with the courts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data in this report reflects motions decided during calendar year 2020 for which court documentation was received, coded, and edited by July 9, 2021.
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(July 13, 2021) In the latest Commission Chats episode, the Director of Research and Data discusses the important data clearinghouse function of the Commission.
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(June 29, 2021) This report updates and expands upon the Commission's 2012 Report to the Congress: Federal Child Pornography Offenses.
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”.