BAC 2210-40
UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION
Rules of Practice and Procedure
AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission
ACTION: Notice of proposed rules of practice and procedure. Request for public comment.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under 995(a)(1) of title 28, United States Code, the Sentencing Commission is considering the promulgation of internal rules of practice and procedure. The proposed rules are set forth below. The Commission invites comment on these proposed rules.
DATES: Written comment should be submitted to Michael Courlander, Public Information Specialist, no later than November 1, 1996.
ADDRESS: Comments should be sent to: United States Sentencing Commission, One Columbus Circle, N.E., Suite 2-500, South Lobby, Washington, D.C. 20002-8002, Attention: Public Information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Courlander, Public Information Specialist, Telephone: (202) 273-4590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 995(a)(1) of title 28 authorizes the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent agency in the judicial branch of the United States Government, to establish general policies and promulgate rules and regulations for the Commission as necessary to carry out the purposes of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.
These rules of practice and procedure are designed to facilitate public understanding and participation in the work of the Sentencing Commission. For the most part these rules do not represent substantive change in the way the Commission has traditionally conducted its business. These rules are not intended to enlarge the rights of any person sentenced under the guidelines promulgated by the Commission or otherwise create any private right of action.
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 995(a)(1).
Richard P. Conaboy
Chairman
Rules of Practice and Procedure
Part I - SCOPE OF RULES
Rule 1.1 Application and Purpose
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 995(a)(1) and other applicable provisions of its organizational statute, the United States Sentencing Commission (Athe Commission@) has established these rules governing its usual operating practices. While the Commission, an agency within the judicial branch of government, is not subject as a general matter to the Administrative Procedures Act and a variety of other statutes typically applicable to executive branch agencies, the Commission nevertheless desires to involve interested members of the public in its work to the maximum extent practicable. Accordingly, these rules are issued for the purpose of more fully informing interested persons of opportunities and procedures for becoming aware of and participating in the public business of the Commission. These rules are not intended to enlarge the rights of any person sentenced under the guidelines promulgated by the Commission or otherwise create any private right of action.
Rule 1.2 Suspension of Rules and Promulgation of Temporary Rules
The Commission in a public meeting at which a quorum is present may, by vote of a majority of members, promulgate, modify, or suspend any rule contained herein, or promulgate a temporary, supplemental, or superseding rule.
Part II - ACTION BY THE COMMISSION
Rule 2.1 Members
For purposes of the voting procedures set forth in these Rules, Amember@ of the Commission shall mean a voting member and shall not include an ex-officio, non-voting member. Ex-officio members may participate in all discussions of the Commission but may not vote or make motions.
Rule 2.2 Voting Rules for Action by the Commission
Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by law, action by the Commission requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at a public meeting at which a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members then serving. Members shall be deemed Apresent@ and may participate and vote in public meetings from remote locations by electronic means, including, but not limited to, telephone, satellite and video conference devices.
Promulgation of guidelines, policy statements, official commentary, and amendments thereto shall require the affirmative vote of at least four members at a public meeting. See 28 U.S.C. 994(a).
Publication of proposed amendments to guidelines, policy statements, or official commentary in the Federal Register shall require the affirmative vote of at least three members at a public meeting.
Action on miscellaneous matters may be taken without a meeting based on the affirmative vote of a majority of the members then serving by written or oral communication. Such matters may include, but are not limited to, the approval of budget requests, legal briefs, staff reports, analyses of legislation, and administrative and personnel issues.
Part III - INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMISSION
Rule 3.1 Office(s)
The offices of the Commission are located in the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Suite 2-500, South Lobby, One Columbus Circle, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002-8002.
The office can be reached telephonically between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The main telephone number is 202/273-4500. The fax number is 202/273-4529.
Rule 3.2 Communications Office
The Communications Office administers the Commission's policy on Public Access to Sentencing Commission Documents and Data. See 54 Fed. Reg. 238, 51279 (1989). This office also maintains A Guide to Publications & Resources that lists all publications and datasets available from the Commission. This document is available on request.
Generally, the Communications Office will maintain for public inspection by appointment official Commission documents, meetings and hearing schedules and agendas, public comment submissions, and other documents (or citations thereto) that inform Commission decisions or actions.
Rule 3.3 Internet Site
The Commission maintains and updates information and documents on an Internet Web Site and Electronic Bulletin Board. The Web Site is found at: http://www.ussc.gov. The Electronic Bulletin Board can be accessed directly by computer via modem by dialing 202/273-4709.
This resource shall include general information, such as background information about the Commission and Commissioners, notices for scheduled meetings and hearings, minutes of recent meetings, listings of Commission priorities and projects, outstanding public comment solicitations, recently promulgated amendments, a list of all reports and resources available from the Commission, and the text of the Guidelines Manual and Commission reports.
Rule 3.4 Information at Federal Depository Libraries
All Commission publications printed by the Government Printing Office, and other selected documents, are available in hard copy or microfiched form through the Government Printing Office's Regional Depository Libraries (of which there are more than 600 nationwide). The location of the nearest Federal Depository Library can be determined in several ways: (1) request a free copy of the Directory of Depository Libraries from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Library Programs Services, Stop: SLLD, Washington, DC 20401; (2) ask your local library for the address of the nearest Federal Depository Library; or (3) use the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs; Select: "Information Available for Free Public Use in Federal Depository Libraries." Search the listing by state or by area code.
Rule 3.5 Access to Commission Data -- Research Consortium
The Commission provides its various databases to the University of Michigan's Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). Researchers interested in studying federal sentencing practices through quantitative methods can access Commission sentencing data through this means. Contact ICPSR, P.O. Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106; or call 1-800-999-0960; or use the following Internet address: http://www.ICPSR.umich.edu/NACJD/home.html.
Part IV - MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
Rule 4.1 Meetings
The Chair shall call and preside at Commission meetings. In the absence of the Chair, the Chair will designate a Vice Chair to preside.
Rule 4.2 Public Meetings
The Commission shall endeavor to meet publicly on at least two separate occasions in each calendar quarter to inform the public and receive public comment on matters under consideration by the Commission.
To the extent practicable, the Chair shall issue, through the Office of Staff Director, a public notice of any public meeting at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting. The public notice, to the extent practicable, shall indicate the general purpose(s) of the meeting and include an agenda and any related documents approved for public release.
In the discretion of the Chair, and to the extent the Chair may deem appropriate, members of the public may be afforded an opportunity to comment on any issue on the agenda of a public meeting.
Rule 4.3 Executive Sessions
The Commission may hold executive sessions closed to the public to transact business of the Commission that is not appropriate for a public meeting, including, but not limited to, discussion and resolution of personnel and budget issues.
Rule 4.4 Working Sessions
The Commission routinely may hold working sessions that are not open to the public for the purpose of receiving information from staff and others and for conducting in-depth discussions of matters before the Commission.
Rule 4.5 Public Hearings Generally
The Commission may convene a public hearing on any matter involving the promulgation of sentencing guidelines or any other matter affecting the Commission's business. Notice of such hearing will be placed in the Federal Register as soon as practicable and the notice shall include, if applicable, a procedure for requesting the opportunity to testify and the availability for public inspection of documents or reports relevant to the subject of the hearing.
The Communications Office shall make available by customary means the topic(s) that will be the subject of testimony and any other topics or issues about which only written submissions will be accepted.
The Commission may exclude from such a hearing any electronic devices that record the voice or image of any or all witnesses, as well as cameras of any kind.
At the request of any witness to turn off any such electronic device(s) during that person's testimony, the Chair of the Commission may order, at his or her discretion, that use of such devices be discontinued during the testimony of that witness.
Rule 4.6 Written Record of Meetings and Hearings
The Commission shall prepare and maintain written minutes of public meetings and make them publicly available by customary means within a reasonable time after their approval by the Commission.
The Commission shall maintain a written transcription of public hearings that shall be publicly available for inspection.
Part V - AMENDMENT PROCESS
Rule 5.1 Promulgation of Amendments
The Commission may promulgate and submit to Congress amendments to the guidelines between the beginning of a regular session of Congress and the first day of May that year. Amendments shall be accompanied by a brief explanation or statement of reasons for the amendments. Unless otherwise specified, or unless Congress legislates to the contrary, amendments submitted for review shall take effect on the first day of November of the year in which submitted. 28 U.S.C. 994(p).
The Commission may promulgate amendments at other times pursuant to special statutory enactment (e.g., the "emergency" amendment authority under section 730 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996).
Amendments to policy statements and commentary may be promulgated and put into effect at any time. However, to the extent practicable, the Commission shall endeavor to include amendments to policy statements and commentary in any submission of guideline amendments to Congress and put them into effect on the same November 1 date as any guideline amendments issued in the same year.
Rule 5.2 Prison Impact of Amendments
In promulgating amendments to the guidelines, the Commission shall consider the available penal, correctional, and other facilities and services.
To the extent practicable, the Commission shall consider and, make available to the public by customary means, information describing the prison impact of any amendments that significantly impact on prison population.
Rule 5.3 Notice and Comment on Proposed Amendments
In proposing and promulgating guidelines and amendments thereto, the Commission shall comply with the requirements of section 553 of title 5, United States Code, relating to publication in the Federal Register and public hearing procedure. 28 U.S.C. 994(x).
The Commission may promulgate commentary and policy statements, and amendments thereto, without regard to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 994(x). Nevertheless, the Commission will endeavor to provide, to the extent practicable, comparable opportunities for public input on proposed policy statements and commentary considered in conjunction with guideline amendments.
Rule 5.4 Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments
As stated in Rule 2.2, supra, upon the affirmative vote of three voting members, the Commission may authorize publication in the Federal Register of a proposed amendment to a guideline, policy statement, or official commentary. A vote to publish shall be deemed to be a request for public comment on the proposed amendment.
The notice of proposed amendments also shall provide, where appropriate and practicable, reasons for consideration of amendments, a summary of or reference to information that is relevant to the issue(s), and whether the Commission possesses information on the issue(s) that is publicly available. In addition, the publication notice shall include a deadline for public comment and may include a notice of any scheduled public hearing(s) or meetings on the issue(s).
In the case of proposed amendments to guidelines or issues for comment that form the basis for possible guidelines amendments, to the extent practicable, there shall be a minimum period of public comment of at least 60 calendar days prior to final Commission action on the proposed amendments.
Rule 5.5 Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments
Unless time does not permit or the Commission determines that a hearing would not substantially assist the amendment process, the Commission shall conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments. The hearing shall be noticed in the Federal Register and otherwise announced by customary means.
Part VI - PUBLIC INPUT TO AMENDMENT PROCESS
Rule 6.1 Public Comment File
As stated in Rule 3.2, supra, the Communications Office shall receive and maintain public comment and public hearing testimony received by the Commission. This public comment file will be available during normal business hours for public inspection pursuant to written or telephonic request and with reasonable notice.
Rule 6.2 Notice of Priorities
Annually, following the submission to Congress of any guideline amendments, the Commission shall publish in the Federal Register and make available to the public by customary means, a notice of the tentative priorities for future Commission inquiry and possible action, including areas for possible amendments to guidelines, policy statements, and commentary. Any such notice shall include an invitation to, and deadline for, the submission of written public comment on the proposed priorities.
Rule 6.3 Data and Reports Relevant to the Amendment Process
To fulfill Commission priorities and inform consideration of potential amendments, the Staff Director shall direct the preparation of relevant data and reports for consideration by the Commission. Upon authorization by the Commission, the Communications Office shall make the data and reports available to the public by customary means, as soon as practicable.
Rule 6.4 Advisory Groups
Upon authorization of the Commission, the Staff Director may facilitate the creation, membership, and periodic meeting at the Commission offices and elsewhere, of advisory groups of defense attorneys, academics, probation officers, judges, prosecutors, and others, to facilitate formal and informal input to the Commission. Two types of advisory groups are authorized: standing and ad hoc.
The following groups are the standing advisory groups: the Practitioners' Advisory Group and the Probation Officers' Advisory Group. The Commission may create additional standing advisory groups.
The Commission also may create ad hoc advisory groups as needed.
In addition, the Commission expects to receive and, from time to time, solicit input from outside groups representing the federal judiciary, prosecutors, defense attorneys, crime victims, and other interested groups.
Rule 6.5 Advisory Group Meetings and Reports
Subject to such limitations as the Commission may deem necessary, each advisory group shall establish appropriate policies regarding the conduct of their meetings.
Except as otherwise authorized by the Commission, final reports of ad hoc advisory groups, if any, shall be provided to the Commission and, after necessary time for Commission review, shall be made available for public inspection.