Overview

• 26.6% of all cases carried a mandatory minimum penalty.
   
• Of all cases carrying a mandatory minimum penalty:
  • 72.3% were drug trafficking;
  • 6.1% were sexual abuse;
  • 5.6% were child pornography;
  • 4.8% were firearms;
  • 3.2% were fraud.
• 40.9% of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty were relieved of the penalty;
  • 19.5% received relief through the safety valve provision;[2]
  • 14.4% provided the government with substantial assistance;[3]
  • 7.1% received relief through both.  
• Of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty:
  • 36.9% of males received relief;
  • 69.9% of females received relief;
  • 35.8% of U.S. citizens received relief;
  • 66.2% of non-U.S. citizens received relief.  
• 59.1% of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty did not receive relief.
    
• 38.1% of individuals convicted of a mandatory minimum penalty were Hispanic, 30.3% were White, 28.3% were Black, and 3.2% were Other races.

Individuals and Sentencing

• The average sentence length was:
  • 151 months for those subject to the mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 67 months for those receiving relief;
  • 30 months for individuals who were not convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty.
• The top five districts where cases involving a mandatory minimum penalty comprised the highest percentage of the overall caseload were:
  • Central District of Illinois (63.7%);
  • Northern District of Florida (57.7%);
  • Western District of Virginia (57.0%);
  • Southern District of Indiana (57.0%);
  • District of Puerto Rico (56.7%).

Offense Categories

Identity Theft Offenses

• 80.7% of the 626 individuals sentenced for identity theft offenses[4] were subject to a mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 57 months; 28 months with relief.

Drug Offenses

• 64.7% of the 18,818 individuals sentenced for drug offenses[5] were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 48.6% remained subject to that penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 138 months; 64 months with relief.  
• 72.6% of the 3,547 individuals sentenced for powder cocaine offenses were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty, compared to 47.0% of individuals sentenced for marijuana offenses.  
   
• 63.3% of the 357 individuals sentenced for crack cocaine offenses remained subject to a mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing, compared to 39.1% of individuals sentenced for marijuana offenses.

Firearms Offenses

• 28.0% of the 11,131 individuals sentenced for firearms offenses were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty.
   
• 2,830 were convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c);
  • 81.9% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 153 months; 108 months with relief.
• 189 qualified as Armed Career Criminals under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e);
  • 79.0% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 223 months; 116 months with relief.

Sex Offenses

• 70.9% of the 2,776 individuals sentenced for sex offenses—sexual abuse or child pornography—were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty.  
   
• 74.3% f the 1,379 individuals sentenced for sexual abuse were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 94.8% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 259 months; 157 months with relief.  
• 67.6% of the 1,397 individuals sentenced for child pornography were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 96.9% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 143 months; 111 months with relief.