- 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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(February 25, 2021) Explore the Winter 2021 edition of ESP's Insider Express digital newsletter for the latest from the Commission.
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(February 25, 2021) Get a basic overview of the key findings from the Commission's multiyear study of recidivism among federal offenders.
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(February 25, 2021) The following case law resources summarize select appellate court decisions that involve the guidelines and other aspects of federal sentencing.
Case Law Concierge (Updated February 2021)
Case Law Quarterly: Volume 4, Issue 4 (October - December 2020) -
(January 25, 2021) This report examines the relatively new and emerging problem of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue trafficking. It presents data about fentanyl and fentanyl analogue offenses since 2005 and provides an in-depth analysis of fiscal year 2019 fentanyl and fentanyl analogue offenses and offenders.
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(January 4, 2021) The preliminary data in this report reflects information received on offenders sentenced through the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 (October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020). This data is preliminary as the Commission collects, analyzes, and reports additional cases throughout the fiscal year.
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This report examines the influence of the guidelines range on average sentences imposed after the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in United States v. Booker.
Full Report (December 14, 2020)
Infographic (January 4, 2021)
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”.