Congressional Reports and Testimony
Congressional Reports
- Report on the Continuing Impact of United States v. Booker on Federal Sentencing (December 2012). This report assesses the continuing impact of United States v. Booker on the federal sentencing system. Part A of the report discusses the history of the federal sentencing guidelines and the sentencing process after Booker. It also provides statistical analyses of federal sentencing data and recommendations for strengthening the federal sentencing guidelines system. Parts B through F and corresponding appendices include more detailed descriptions of appellate court decisions, additional sentencing data, a description of other stakeholders' proposals for sentencing reform, and summaries of relevant public hearings and the Commission's 2010 survey of district judges.
- Report on the Impact of United States v. Booker on Federal Sentencing (March 2006). This report assesses the impact of United States v. Booker on federal sentencing. Explanation of revisions to version released March 13, 2006.
Congressional Testimony
- Prepared Statement of Judge Patti B. Saris, Chair, United States Sentencing Commission, before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security (October 12, 2011). Judge Saris testified regarding the state of federal sentencing since the United States Supreme Court's 2005 decision in United States v. Booker and the role of the Commission in federal sentencing after Booker.
- Prepared Statement of Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa, Chair, United States Sentencing Commission, before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security (March 16, 2006). Judge Hinojosa testified regarding the impact of the United States Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker on federal sentencing.
- Prepared Statement of Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa, Chair, United States Sentencing Commission, before the House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security (February 10, 2005). Judge Hinojosa testified regarding the impact of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Public Hearings
Public Hearings
On February 16, 2012, the Commission held a public hearing on federal sentencing options pursuant to United States v. Booker. Review the hearing materials.
In 2009–2010, the Commission held a series of regional public hearings on federal sentencing policy to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 ("SRA"). Witnesses discussed issues related to federal sentencing policy and the implementation of the SRA over the past 25 years, including the impact of United States v. Booker on the federal sentencing guidelines.
| Regional Public Hearings | |||
| Phoenix, AZ — Jan 20–21, 2010 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
| Austin, TX — Nov 19–20, 2009 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
| Denver, CO — Oct 20–21, 2009 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
| Chicago, IL — Sep 9–10, 2009 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
| New York, NY — Jul 9–10, 2009 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
| Stanford, CA — May 27–28, 2009 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
| Atlanta, GA — Feb 10–11, 2009 | Notice, Agenda, Statements | Transcript | |
On February 15–16, 2005, the Commission held a public hearing regarding the present and potential future effect of the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker on the federal criminal justice community. Review the hearing materials.
Public Comment
In each of the Commission's annual requests for comment on its proposed priorities following the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker, the Commission has requested comment on proposals to study how Booker has affected federal sentencing.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2014 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2013 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2012 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2011 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2010 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2009 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2008 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2007 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities for the 2006 Amendment Cycle and Request for Public Comment.
Selected Research and Data Reports and Surveys
- Results of Survey of United States District Judges January 2010 through March 2010 (June 2010).
- Demographic Differences in Federal Sentencing Practices: An Update of the Booker Report's Multivariate Analysis (March 2010). This report updates the Commission's data analysis concerning demographic differences in federal sentencing practices set forth in Chapter 5 of the Commission's 2006 Final Report on the Impact of United States v. Booker on Federal Sentencing.
Amicus Curiae Briefs
- Amicus Curiae Brief Filed by the United States Sentencing Commission. On March 3, 2010, the Commission filed an amicus curiae brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of the United States in Percy Dillon v. United States.
- Amicus Curiae Brief Filed by the United States Sentencing Commission. On January 22, 2007, the Commission filed an amicus curiae brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of the United States in Claiborne v. United States and Rita v. United States. The brief addresses the question of whether a district court's application of the federal sentencing guidelines produces a presumptively reasonable sentence.
- Amicus Curiae Brief Filed By United States Sentencing Commission. On September 1, 2004, the Commission filed an amicus curiae brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of the position of the United States in the consolidated cases United States v. Booker and United States v. Fanfan.