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United States Sentencing Commission

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The Federal Sentencing Guidelines

The Commission promulgates guidelines that judges consult when sentencing federal offenders. When the guidelines are amended, a subsequent Guidelines Manual is published.

In this section, you will find the Commission’s comprehensive archive of yearly amendments and Guidelines Manuals dating back to 1987.
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The Commission collects, analyzes, and disseminates a broad array of information on federal crime and sentencing practices.

In this section, you will find a comprehensive collection of research and data reports published on sentencing issues and other areas of federal crime.

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The Commission establishes sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. Each year, the Commission reviews and refines these policies in light of congressional action, decisions from courts of appeals, sentencing-related research, and input from the criminal justice community.

In this section, you can follow the Commission’s work through the amendment cycle as priorities are set, research is performed, testimony is heard, and amendments are adopted.

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Education Mission

The Commission serves as an information resource for Congress, the executive branch, the courts, criminal justice practitioners, the academic community, and the public.

In this section, you will find resources to assist you in understanding and applying the federal sentencing guidelines.
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About the Commission

The U.S. Sentencing Commission is an independent agency in the judicial branch that was created as part of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee, and the Chair of the U.S. Parole Commission serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Commission.

In this section, learn about the Commission’s mission, structure, and ongoing work.
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2014 Drug Amendment

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Report At A Glance: The First Step Act of 2018

Report-At-A-Glance

August 2020

This infographic presents an overview of the Commission's 2020 report, The First Step Act of 2018: One Year of...

Infographic

Full Report

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Selected Offenses Against the Person and VICAR

Primer

August 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of federal statutes, sentencing guideline issues, and case...

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Report At A Glance: Retroactivity and Recidivism

Report-At-A-Glance

August 2020

This infographic presents an overview of the Commission's 2020 report, Retroactivity and Recidivism: The Drugs Minus...

Infographic

Full Report

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Federal Offenders in Prison

Quick Facts

August 2020

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Drug Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Powder Cocaine Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Methamphetamine Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Oxycodone Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Non-U.S. Citizen Federal Offenders

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Fentanyl Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Marijuana Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Crack Cocaine Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Heroin Trafficking

Quick Facts

June 2020

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Criminal History

Primer

June 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the sentencing guidelines and statutes relevant to...

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Drugs

Primer

June 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the sentencing guidelines, pertinent statutes, and...

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Immigration

Primer

June 2020

This primer is intended to provide an overview of sentencing-related criminal immigration topics.

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Supervised Release

Primer

June 2020

This primer provides a general overview of the imposition and revocation of supervised release.

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Categorical Approach

Primer

June 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the history, major statutes, sentencing guidelines, and...

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Antitrust

Primer

June 2020

This primer is intended to provide an overview of sentencing-related criminal antitrust topics.

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Mandatory Minimum Penalties

Quick Facts

May 2020

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National Defense

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Robbery Offenses

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Escape Offenses

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Commercial Sex Acts and Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Primer

May 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the statutes, sentencing guideline issues, and case law...

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Intellectual Property

Primer

May 2020

This primer is intended to provide an overview of the sentencing guidelines, pertinent statutes, issues, and case law...

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Child Pornography

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Sexual Abuse

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Aggravated Identity Theft

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Section 924(c) Firearms

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Section 922(g) Firearms

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Theft, Property Destruction & Fraud

Quick Facts

May 2020

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Sexual Abuse and Failure to Register Offenses

Primer

May 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the statutes, sentencing guideline issues, and case law...

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Retroactivity

Primer

May 2020

This primer addresses some common procedural questions that have arisen in the context of motions for sentence...

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Firearms

Primer

May 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the major statutes, sentencing guidelines, issues, and...

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Aggravating and Mitigating Role Adjustments

Primer

May 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of guideline sections 3B1.1 (Aggravating Role) and 3B1.2 (...

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Crime Victims' Rights

Primer

April 2020

This primer provides a general overview of crime victims’ rights under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (“CVRA”), as...

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Money Laundering

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Counterfeiting

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Copyright and Trademark Infringement

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Bribery

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Tax Fraud

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Career Offenders

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Female Offenders

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Native American Offenders

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Alien Smuggling

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Illegal Reentry

Quick Facts

April 2020

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Departures and Variances

Primer

March 2020

This primer contains a summary of guideline provisions and annotations to judicial opinions addressing some of the most...

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Loss Calculation

Primer

March 2020

This primer discusses issues often raised about economic loss and loss calculation under §2B1.1.

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Fines Under the Organizational Guidelines

Primer

March 2020

This primer focuses exclusively on the manner in which a sentencing court calculates the appropriate fine for an...

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Economic Crime Victims

Primer

March 2020

This primer provides a general overview of selected guideline issues related to victims in offenses sentenced under §...

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RICO

Primer

March 2020

The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the pertinent statutes, sentencing guidelines, and...

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Relevant Conduct

Primer

March 2020

This primer addresses some common questions that have arisen in the context of relevant conduct. The answers are drawn...

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Federal Offenders in Prison - Interactive

October 2019

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Government Benefits Fraud

Quick Facts

September 2019

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Mortgage Fraud

Quick Facts

September 2019

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Organizational Offenders

Quick Facts

September 2019

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Credit Card Fraud

Quick Facts

September 2019

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Health Care Fraud

Quick Facts

September 2019

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Securities and Investment Fraud

Quick Facts

August 2019

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Report At A Glance: Federal Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Sex Offenses

Report-At-A-Glance

January 2019

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's 2019 report, Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Sex Offenses in the...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Federal ID Theft Mandatory Minimum Penalties

Report-At-A-Glance

September 2018

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's 2018 report, Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Identity Theft...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: 851 Enhancements

Report-At-A-Glance

July 2018

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's 2018 report, Application and Impact of 21 U.S.C. § 851: Enhanced...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Federal Gun Mandatory Minimum Penalties

Report-At-A-Glance

March 2018

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's 2018 report, Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Firearms Offenses in...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Federal Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalties

Report-At-A-Glance

November 2017

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's 2017 report, Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Drug Offenses in the...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Federal Mandatory Minimum Penalties

Report-At-A-Glance

July 2017

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's 2017 report, Overview of Mandatory Minimum Penalties in the...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Federal Simple Drug Possession

Report-At-A-Glance

May 2017

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's report, Weighing the Charges: Simple Possession of Drugs in the...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Recidivism and Federal Sentencing Policy

Report-At-A-Glance

May 2017

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's report, Recidivism Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive...

Handout

Full Report

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Report At A Glance: Federal Sentencing of Career Offenders

Report-At-A-Glance

May 2017

This handout presents an overview of the Commission's Report to the Congress: Career Offender Sentencing Enhancements.

Report-At-A-Glance

Full Report

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Frequently Asked Questions: 2011 Retroactive Crack Cocaine Guideline Amendment

June 2011

This document provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Commission's decision to give...

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Policy Profile: The 2014 Drug Amendment

Sensible Sentencing Reform: The 2014 Drug Guidelines Amendment This document provides background information on the...

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Policy Profile: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010

Sensible Sentencing Reform: The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 This document provides background information on the impact...

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USSC HelpLine

The HelpLine assists practitioners in applying the guidelines.

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Contact: (202) 502-4545

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET) Monday – Friday

U.S. Sentencing Commission

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