Overview

• 24.3% of all cases carried a mandatory minimum penalty.
   
• Of all cases carrying a mandatory minimum penalty:
  • 69.4% were drug trafficking;
  • 7.4% were sexual abuse;
  • 6.2% were child pornography;
  • 5.0% were firearms;
  • 3.4% were fraud.
• 37.0% of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty were relieved of the penalty;
  • 16.1% received relief through the safety valve provision;²
  • 14.6% provided the government with substantial assistance;³
  • 6.3% received relief through both.  
• Of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty:
  • 34.0% of males received relief;
  • 63.7% of females received relief;
  • 31.1% of U.S. citizens received relief;
  • 64.1% of non-U.S. citizens received relief.
• 63.0% of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty did not receive relief.
   
• 38.1% of individuals convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty were Hispanic, 29.5% were Black, 28.5% were White, and 3.9% were Other races.

Individuals and Sentencing

• The average sentence length was:
  • 157 months for those subject to the mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 70 months for those receiving relief;
  • 31 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:
  • District of Hawaii (72.9%);
  • Southern District of Indiana (62.5%);
  • District of Puerto Rico (59.3%);
  • Northern District of Florida (58.7%);
  • District of Nebraska (55.7%).

Offense Categories

Identity Theft Offenses

• 83.8% of the 567 individuals sentenced for identity theft offenses⁴ were subject to a mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 59 months; 31 months with relief.

Drug Offenses

• 57.2% of the 17,858 individuals sentenced for drug offenses⁵ were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 52.4% remained subject to that penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 142 months; 68 months with relief.
• 66.9% of the 3,456 individuals sentenced for powder cocaine offenses were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory
  minimum penalty, compared to 49.6% of individuals sentenced for marijuana offenses. 
   
• 75.6% of the 238 individuals sentenced for crack cocaine offenses remained subject to a mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing, compared to 38.4% of individuals sentenced for marijuana offenses.

Firearms Offenses

• 27.6% of the 10,184 individuals sentenced for firearms offenses were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty.
   
• 2,522 were convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c);
  • 81.3% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 161 months; 102 months with relief.
• 194 qualified as Armed Career Criminals under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e);
  • 83.4% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 214 months; 122 months with relief.

Sex Offenses

• 72.0% of the 2,779 individuals sentenced for sex offenses—sexual abuse or child pornography—were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty.  
   
• 76.8% of the 1,413 individuals sentenced for sexual abuse were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 95.6% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 262 months; 159 months with relief.  
• 67.1% of the 1,366 individuals sentenced for child pornography were convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty;
  • 97.6% remained subject to the mandatory minimum penalty at sentencing.
  • Their average sentence was 144 months; 99 months with relief.