Reports to the Congress

In the Spotlight
Mandatory Minimum Reports

A series of reports updating the 2011 Report to Congress on Mandatory Minimum Penalties.

Career Offender Report

A 2016 report on Career Offender Sentencing Enhancements with recommendations to Congress.

A series of reports examining the impact of United States v. Booker on federal sentencing.

Reports to the Congress

Booker 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.
 

Campaign Finance

  • Report to the Congress: Increased Penalties for Campaign Finance Offenses and Legislative Recommendations (May 2003). This report is submitted pursuant to section 314 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-155 (the "Act"). Section 314 required the United States Sentencing Commission (the "Commission") to promulgate a guideline "for penalties for violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971." The Commission, acting under emergency authority conferred by the Act, promulgated an amendment, effective January 25, 2003, which created an temporary guideline for campaign finance offenses. That guideline was repromulgated without change as a permanent amendment in March 2003 and, subject to congressional review, will become effective on November 1, 2003.
   

Career Offenders

  • Report to the Congress: Career Offender Enhancements (July 2016). This report, submitted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 994 and 995, presents findings of the Commission's multi-year study of statutory and guideline definitions relating to the nature of a defendant’s prior conviction and the impact of such definitions on the relevant statutory and guideline provisions.
   

Compliance

  • Report to the Congress Regarding 28 U.S.C. § 994(w) (August 2021). This report is submitted to Congress pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(3) regarding the compliance of the federal district courts with the documentation submission requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(1).

  • Report to the Congress Regarding 28 U.S.C. § 994(w) (August 2021). This report is submitted to Congress pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(3) regarding the compliance of the federal district courts with the documentation submission requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(1).

  • Report to the Congress Regarding 28 U.S.C. § 994(w) (July 2019). This report is submitted to Congress pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(3) regarding the compliance of the federal district courts with the documentation submission requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(1).

  • Report to the Congress Regarding 28 U.S.C. § 994(w) (March 2017). This report is submitted to Congress pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(3) regarding the compliance of the federal district courts with the documentation submission requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(1).

  • Report to the Congress Regarding 28 U.S.C. § 994(w) (June 2016). This report is submitted to Congress pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(3) regarding the compliance of the federal district courts with the documentation submission requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 994(w)(1).

 

Computer Crime

Corporate Crime and Fraud Topics

 

Departures

 

Disaster Fraud

 

Drug Topics

 

Mandatory Minimum Penalties

  • Report to the Congress: Mandatory Minimum Penalties in the Federal Criminal Justice System (October 2011). This report assesses the impact of mandatory minimum penalties on federal sentencing, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Booker v. United States. The United States Sentencing Commission prepared this report pursuant to a congressional directive contained in section 4713 of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, Pub L. No. 111–84, and the Commission's statutory authority under 28 U.S.C. §§ 994–995.

  • Special Report to the Congress: Mandatory Minimum Penalties in the Federal Criminal Justice System (August 1991). This report responds to a statutory directive that the Commission examine the compatibility of the sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimum penalties, the effect of mandatory minimums on the federal system, and congressional alternatives to mandatory minimums for directing sentencing policy.
 

Money Laundering Topics

 

Prison Resources

  • Report to Congress: Maximum Utilization of Prisons Resources (June 1994). The Sentencing Reform Act of I984 provides that the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the Federal Bureau of Prisons shall submit to Congress a joint report concerning the maximum utilization of prison resources. This report fulfills this directive.
 

Sex Offense Topics

  • Report to the Congress: Federal Child Pornography Offenses (December 2012). This comprehensive report examines federal sentencing policy in child pornography cases. It focuses primarily on non-production offenses under USSG §2G2.2. One chapter also analyzes production of child pornography offenses under USSG §2G2.1. This report is the result of a multi-year study by the Commission and complements and expands upon the Commission's 2009 report, The History of the Child Pornography Guidelines.

  • Report to the Congress: Sex Crimes Against Children (June 1996). This report analyzes all 1994 and 1995 cases involving sexual abuse, child pornography, or the promotion of illegal sexual contact. The report responds to a congressional directive in the Sex Crimes Against Children Prevention Act of 1995. Pertinent statutory provisions are analyzed and recommendations are presented.

  • Report to Congress: Adequacy of Penalties for the Intentional Exposure of Others, through Sexual Activity, to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (March 1995). In this report, the Commission considers whether revisions to the sentencing guidelines were needed to accommodate offenses involving willful exposure to HIV. The report examines (1) the operation of the guidelines given the absence of a specific federal statute punishing the intentional transmission of HIV; (2) cases sentenced in fiscal year 1993 to determine the frequency with which HIV exposure was an issue at sentencing; and (3) pertinent case law.

  • Report to Congress: Analysis of Penalties for Federal Rape Cases (March 1995). This report discusses the operation of the sentencing guidelines with regard to federal rape cases, compares federal and state penalties for sexual assault, analyzes Sentencing Commission sexual abuse data, and analyzes public comment and expert opinion on pertinent issues.