Policymaking

Policymaking
One of the Commission’s principal purposes is to establish sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. Each year, the Commission reviews and refines the guidelines in light of congressional action, decisions from courts of appeals, sentencing-related research, and input from the criminal justice community. There have been over 800 amendments since the guidelines went into effect in 1987.


Learn more about our amendment process below.
Rules of Practice and Procedure
  • Proposed Priorities
    June - August
    The Commission begins the amendment cycle in early spring with a Commission planning session. By late spring, the Commission publishes for public comment a list of tentative policy priorities.
  • Final Priorities
    September - December
    In late summer, the Commission votes to adopt final priorities. These are the issues the Commission will address in the amendment cycle. Then, staff policy teams are formed to research the various issues and develop recommendations, including possible guideline amendments.
  • Proposed Amendments
    January - March
    Typically in January (but sometimes earlier) the Commission publishes proposed amendments responding to its list of priorities. The Commission solicits comment from the general public and stakeholder groups and holds public hearings to receive testimony on the proposed amendments.
  • Adopted Amendments
    April - May
    Typically in April (but sometimes earlier), the Commission votes on whether to adopt amendments. No later than May 1, amendments are submitted to Congress for a 180-day review period. If Congress takes no action during this period, the adopted amendments become effective November 1.

 

2024-2025 Amendment Cycle

  • Public Comment

     

     

    The Commission received comment on proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025.

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  • Federal Register Notice

     

    The Commission seeks comment on proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025.
     

    Public comment should be received by the Commission on or before July 15, 2024. 

     

     

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  • Press Release

     

    Embracing the public’s ideas to improve sentencing, Commission unanimously adopts policy priorities.

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  • Federal Register Notice

     

    The Commission published final priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025.
     

    Federal Register Notice

     

     

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  • Event

     

    A public meeting of the Commission was held on Thursday, August 8, 2024 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. 

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  • Public Comment

     

     

    The Commission received comment on proposed amendments for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025.

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  • Event

     

    A public hearing was held on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13, 2025 to receive testimony on proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines.

     

    Video and transcript of the event are available.

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  • Event

     

    A public hearing was held on Wednesday, February 12 to receive testimony on proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines.

     

    This event was livestreamed. A video recording and transcript are available.

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  • Video

     

    Commission staff prepared data to inform public comment on a proposal relating to drug offenses under §2D1.1.

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  • Federal Register Notice

     

    The Commission published proposed amendments for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025.
     

    Federal Register Notice

     

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  • Amendments

     

    This document contains unofficial text of proposed amendments to the sentencing guidelines provided only for the convenience of the user in the preparation of public comment.   

    The Commission is seeking comment on these proposals through March 3, 2025 with a reply comment period closing on March 18, 2025

     

    "Reader-Friendly"

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  • Press Release

     

    The Commission published another round of proposed amendments and issues for comment for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025.

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  • Event


    A public meeting of the Commission was held on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. (EST) pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure. A video recording and transcript are available.

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  • Video

     

    Commission staff prepared data to inform public comment on a proposal relating to the treatment of machinegun conversion devices under the §2K2.1 guideline.

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  • Amendments

     

    This document contains unofficial preliminary "reader-friendly" text of final amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines (effective November 1, 2025), which will be submitted to Congress by May 1, 2025 .
     

    "Reader-Friendly"

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  • Press Release

     

    Commission votes to promulgate amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines.

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  • Event

     

    A public meeting of the Commission was scheduled for Friday, April 11, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. (ET) pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission.

     

    The meeting was streamed live. Check back soon for a transcript.

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