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.
These interactive resources provide an overview of certain BOP programs for policymakers and other stakeholders interested in learning how RDAP and the earned time credits system are administered.
Amendments In Brief are short summaries, usually one to two pages, of the Commission’s actions in a certain area of sentencing policy and the issue that prompted the guideline amendment.
Unclear about some of the terms found in the Guidelines Manual? This glossary covers everything from “Abuse of Trust” to “Zone D”.
How 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.
Want 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.…
Use these worksheets to help determine the applicable offense level, criminal history score, and guideline range in an individual offender’s case.
2025-2026 Amendment Cycle
Public Comment
The Commission received comment on proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2026.
Federal Register Notice
The Commission seeks comment on proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2026.
Public comment should be received by the Commission on or before July 18, 2025.
Federal Register Notice
The Commission published final priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2026.
Press Release
Commission votes to adopt policy priorities.
Event
A public meeting of the Commission was held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission. This meeting was livestreamed.