2013 5a_SenTab

CHAPTER FIVE - DETERMINING THE SENTENCE


Introductory Commentary

For certain categories of offenses and offenders, the guidelines permit the court to impose either imprisonment or some other sanction or combination of sanctions. In determining the type of sentence to impose, the sentencing judge should consider the nature and seriousness of the conduct, the statutory purposes of sentencing, and the pertinent offender characteristics. A sentence is within the guidelines if it complies with each applicable section of this chapter. The court should impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to comply with the statutory purposes of sentencing. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

Historical Note:  Effective November 1, 1987.


PART A - SENTENCING TABLE

The Sentencing Table used to determine the guideline range follows:


SENTENCING TABLE

(in months of imprisonment)


    Criminal History Category (Criminal History Points)
  Offense Level I (0 or 1) II (2 or 3)   III (4, 5, 6)   IV (7, 8, 9)   V (10, 11, 12)   VI (13 or more)
                       

Zone A
1 0-6 0-6   0-6   0-6   0-6   0-6
2 0-6 0-6   0-6   0-6   0-6   1-7
3 0-6 0-6   0-6   0-6   2-8   3-9
                     
4 0-6 0-6   0-6   2-8   4-10   6-12
5 0-6 0-6   1-7   4-10   6-12   9-15
6 0-6 1-7   2-8   6-12   9-15   12-18
                     
7 0-6 2-8   4-10   8-14   12-18   15-21
8 0-6 4-10   6-12   10-16   15-21   18-24
Zone B 9 4-10 6-12   8-14   12-18   18-24   21-27
                     
10 6-12 8-14   10-16   15-21   21-27   24-30

Zone C
11 8-14 10-16   12-18   18-24   24-30   27-33
12 10-16 12-18   15-21   21-27   27-33   30-37
                     
Zone D 13 12-18 15-21   18-24   24-30   30-37   33-41
14 15-21 18-24   21-27   27-33   33-41   37-46
15 18-24 21-27   24-30   30-37   37-46   41-51
                     
16 21-27 24-30   27-33   33-41   41-51   46-57
17 24-30 27-33   30-37   37-46   46-57   51-63
18 27-33 30-37   33-41   41-51   51-63   57-71
                     
19 30-37 33-41   37-46   46-57   57-71   63-78
20 33-41 37-46   41-51   51-63   63-78   70-87
21 37-46 41-51   46-57   57-71   70-87   77-96
                     
22 41-51 46-57   51-63   63-78   77-96   84-105
23 46-57 51-63   57-71   70-87   84-105   92-115
24 51-63 57-71   63-78   77-96   92-115   100-125
                     
25 57-71 63-78   70-87   84-105   100-125   110-137
26 63-78 70-87   78-97   92-115   110-137   120-150
27 70-87 78-97   87-108   100-125   120-150   130-162
                     
28 78-97 87-108   97-121   110-137   130-162   140-175
29 87-108 97-121   108-135   121-151   140-175   151-188
30 97-121 108-135   121-151   135-168   151-188   168-210
                     
31 108-135 121-151   135-168   151-188   168-210   188-235
32 121-151 135-168   151-188   168-210   188-235   210-262
33 135-168 151-188   168-210   188-235   210-262   235-293
                     
34 151-188 168-210   188-235   210-262   235-293   262-327
35 168-210 188-235   210-262   235-293   262-327   292-365
36 188-235 210-262   235-293   262-327   292-365   324-405
                     
37 210-262 235-293   262-327   292-365   324-405   360-life
38 235-293 262-327   292-365   324-405   360-life   360-life
39 262-327 292-365   324-405   360-life   360-life   360-life
                     
40 292-365 324-405   360-life   360-life   360-life   360-life
41 324-405 360-life   360-life   360-life   360-life   360-life
42 360-life 360-life   360-life   360-life   360-life   360-life
                       
  43 life life   life   life   life   life

Commentary to Sentencing Table

Application Notes:

1.      The Offense Level (1-43) forms the vertical axis of the Sentencing Table.  The Criminal History Category (I-VI) forms the horizontal axis of the Table.  The intersection of the Offense Level and Criminal History Category displays the Guideline Range in months of imprisonment.  "Life" means life imprisonment.  For example, the guideline range applicable to a defendant with an Offense Level of 15 and a Criminal History Category of III is 24-30 months of imprisonment.

2.      In rare cases, a total offense level of less than 1 or more than 43 may result from application of the guidelines.  A total offense level of less than 1 is to be treated as an offense level of 1.  An offense level of more than 43 is to be treated as an offense level of 43. 

3.      The Criminal History Category is determined by the total criminal history points from Chapter Four, Part A, except as provided in §§4B1.1 (Career Offender) and 4B1.4 (Armed Career Criminal).  The total criminal history points associated with each Criminal History Category are shown under each Criminal History Category in the Sentencing Table.

Historical Note:  Effective November 1, 1987.  Amended effective November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendment 270); November 1, 1991 (see Appendix C, amendment 418); November 1, 1992 (see Appendix C, amendment 462); November 1, 2010 (see Appendix C, amendment 738).