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.

 

2022-2023 Amendment Cycle

  • Public Comment

     

     

    The Commission received comment on proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023.

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  • Press Release

     

    The Commission proposed policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023. 

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  • Federal Register Notice

     

    The Commission seeks comment on proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023.
     

    Public comment should be received by the Commission on or before October 17, 2022. 

     

     

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  • Press Release

     

    The Commission regains a quorum for the first time in three years, enabling it to amend federal sentencing guidelines, issue sentencing policy.

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  • Federal Register Notice

     

    The Commission published final priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023.

    Federal Register Notice

     

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  • Press Release

     

    The Commission finalized policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023. 

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  • Event

     

    A public meeting of the Commission was held on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 9:00 a.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. 

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  • Event

     

    A public meeting of the Commission will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. (ET) pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission.

     

    The meeting will be streamed live and recorded.

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  • Public Comment

     

     

    The Commission received comment on proposed amendments for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023.

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  • Event

     

    A public hearing was held on Tuesday, March 7 and Wednesday, March 8, 2023 to receive testimony on proposed amendments related to Firearms, Fake Pills and the First Step Act-Drug Offenses, Circuit Conflicts, Career Offender, and Criminal History.

     

    A video recording of the event is available.

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  • Event

     

    A public hearing was held on Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24, 2023 to receive testimony on proposed amendments related to Compassionate Release, Sex Abuse of a Ward, and Acquitted Conduct.

     

    A video recording and transcript of the event are available. 

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  • Federal Register Notice

     

    The Commission published proposed amendments for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023.
     

    Federal Register Notice

     

    Learn more

  • Video

     

    Commission staff prepared a data presentation to inform public comment on a proposed amendment related to criminal history and the Commission’s implementation of 28 U.S.C. § 994(j).

    This briefing presents data on status points, offenders with zero criminal history points, and simple possession of marijuana offenses.

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  • Press Release

     

    The Commission published proposed amendments and issues for comment for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2023. 

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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 proposed amendments and issues for comment are subject to a public comment period running through March 14, 2023.

     

    "Reader-Friendly" Version of Proposed Amendments

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  • Event

     

    A public meeting of the Commission was held on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission.

     

    A video recording of the event is available.

    Learn more