Public Hearings

Public Hearing - March 9, 2026

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing will be held on Monday, March 9 to receive testimony on proposed amendments to the federal sentencing...

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Public Hearing - February 17, 2026

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 to receive testimony on proposed amendments to the federal...

Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 12-13, 2025

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13, 2025 to receive testimony on proposed...

Day One Transcript

Day Two Transcript

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Public Hearing - February 12, 2025

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 to receive testimony on proposed amendments to the federal...

Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 6-7, 2024

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7, 2024 to receive testimony on proposed amendments...

Day One Transcript

Day Two Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 7-8, 2023

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on March 7-8, 2023 to receive testimony on proposed amendments related to Firearms, Fake Pills...

Day 1 Transcript

Day 2 Transcript

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Public Hearing - February 23-24, 2023

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24, 2023 to receive testimony on proposed...

Day 1 Transcript

Day 2 Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 14, 2018

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on March 14, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to receive testimony on proposed amendments related to...

Chair's Remarks

Transcript

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Public Hearing - February 8, 2018

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held on February 8, 2018 to receive testimony on proposed amendments related to the Bipartisan...

Transcript

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Public Hearing - December 5, 2017

Amendment Cycle

Final Priorities

A public hearing was held to receive testimony on fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and synthetic cannabinoids.

Chair's Remarks

Transcript

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Public Hearing - October 4, 2017

Amendment Cycle

Final Priorities

A public hearing was held to receive testimony on synthetic cathinones.

Chair's Remarks

Transcript

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Public Hearing - October 4, 2017

Video

October 2017

On October 4, 2017, the Commission received testimony from experts on synthetic cathinones, including their chemical...

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Public Meeting - August 17, 2017

Video

August 2017

On August 17, 2017, the Commission held a public meeting to finalize priorities for the 2017-2018 amendment year. The...

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Public Hearing - April 18, 2017

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

A public hearing was held to receive testimony on synthetic drugs and alternatives to incarceration court programs.

Transcript

Chair's Remarks

Testimony

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Public Hearing - April 18, 2017

Video

April 2017

On April 18, 2017, the Commission received testimony on alternatives to incarceration programs in the federal court...

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Public Hearing - July 21, 2016

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Priorities

Transcript

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Public Hearing - July 21, 2016

July 2016

On July 21, 2016, the Commission received testimony from the Tribal Issues Advisory Group on it's recent report and...

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Public Hearing - March 16, 2016

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 16, 2016

March 2016

On March 16, 2016, the Commission received testimony on proposed amendments related to immigration, animal fighting, and...

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Public Hearing - February 17, 2016

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Commissioners received testimony from invited witnesses on compassionate release and conditions of supervision.

Transcript

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Public Hearing - February 17, 2016

February 2016

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Public Hearing - November 5, 2015

November 2015

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Public Hearing - March 12, 2015

March 2015

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Public Hearing - June 10, 2014

June 2014

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Public Hearing - March 13, 2014

March 2014

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed 2013 Amendments to Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Commentary and Request for Public Comment

January 2013

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments to Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Commentary, Request for Public Comment

January 2012

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments to Sentencing Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Commentary, Request for Public Comment

January 2011

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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May 18, 2010

Press Releases

- Commission announces hearing on statutory mandatory minimum penalties and the federal sentencing system.

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments to Sentencing Guidelines, Policy Statements, and Commentary, Request for Public Comment and Notice of Public Hearing

January 2010

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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January 13, 2010

Press Releases

- U.S. Sentencing Commission Seeks Comment on Alternatives to Incarceration, Specific Offender Characteristics Relevant...

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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November 13, 2009

Press Releases

- United States Sentencing Commission to Hold Regional Public Hearing at University of Texas at Austin.

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Federal Register Notice of Final 2009 Priorities

September 2009

Amendment Cycle

Final Priorities

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities and Request for Public Comment

June 2009

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Priorities

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May 22, 2009

Press Releases

- United States Sentencing Commission to Hold Public Hearing at Stanford Law School.

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February 3, 2009

Press Releases

- United States Sentencing Commission to Hold Public Hearing in Atlanta.

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Federal Register Notice of proposed amendments to sentencing guidelines, policy statements, and commentary, request for public comment, and notice of public hearing.

January 2009

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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January 13, 2009

Press Releases

- United States Sentencing Commission to Conduct Regional Public Hearings on Federal Sentencing Policy.

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Public Hearing - March 13, 2008

Testimony (100 MB)

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Federal Register Notice of proposed amendments to sentencing guidelines, policy statements, and commentary, request for public comment, and notice of public hearing

January 2008

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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December 11, 2007

Press Releases

- Commission Votes Unanimously to Apply Amendment Retroactively for Crack Cocaine Offenses; Effective Date for...

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Federal Register Notice of 2007 Public Hearing

October 2007

Amendment Cycle

Adopted Amendments

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Public Hearing - March 20, 2007

Testimony (143 MB)

Transcript

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November 14, 2006

Press Releases

- News Advisory: Public Hearing on Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy.

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November 14, 2006

Press Releases

- United States Sentencing Commission To Hold Public Hearing Tuesday On Cocaine and Sentencing Policy.

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Public Hearing - November 14, 2006

Testimony - Part I (84 MB)

Testimony - Part II (120 MB)

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments; Request for Public Comment; Notice of Public Hearing

January 2005

Amendment Cycle

Adopted Amendments

BAC2210-40/2211-01 UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts AGENCY: United...

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Federal Register Notice of Proposed 2004 Amendments

January 2004

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

BAC2210-40/2211-01 UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts AGENCY: United...

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Federal Register Notice of Public Hearing - March 25, 2003

March 2003

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

BAC2210-40/2211-01 UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts AGENCY: United...

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Public Hearing - November 14, 2002

Testimony (55 MB)

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March 1, 2001

Press Releases

- Sentencing Commission Seeks to Increase Penalties for Counterfeiting and Amphetamine Offenses; Agency Also Implements...

Amendment Cycle

Adopted Amendments

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Public Hearing - March 23, 2000

Testimony (102 MB)

Transcript (43 MB)

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Federal Register Notice and Request for Public Comment; Notice of Public Hearing

January 1999

Amendment Cycle

Adopted Amendments

BAC2210-40/2211-01 UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts AGENCY: United...

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Public Hearing - June 17, 1998

Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 12, 1998

Transcript

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Public Hearing - March 5, 1998

Transcript (7 MB)

Testimony Part I (49 MB)

Testimony Part II (17 MB)

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Public Hearing - October 15, 1997

Transcript

Testimony

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Public Hearing - March 18, 1997

Testimony (62 MB)

Transcript (26 MB)

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Public Hearing - August 12, 1996

Transcript (121 MB)

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July 22, 1996

Press Releases

- Public Hearing on Guideline Simplification.

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March 11, 1996

Press Releases

- Public Hearing – Amendments.

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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Public Hearing - March 11, 1996

Transcript (23 MB)

Testimony (21 MB)

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Public Hearing - March 24, 1994

Transcript (12 MB)

Testimony (116 MB)

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Public Hearing - November 9, 1993

Transcript (73 MB)

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Public Hearing - March 22, 1993

Transcript (45 MB)

Testimony - Part I (41 MB)

Testimony - Part II (58 MB)

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Public Hearing - March 12, 1988

Testimony

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Public Hearing - March 11, 1987

Transcript

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Public Hearing - February 17, 1987

Transcript

Testimony

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Public Hearing - December 2, 1986

Transcript

Testimony

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Public Hearing - November 18, 1986

Transcript

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Public Hearing - November 5, 1986

Transcript

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Public Hearing - October 29, 1986

Transcript

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Public Hearing - October 21, 1986

Transcript

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Public Hearing - September 23, 1986

Testimony

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Public Hearing - July 15, 1986

Transcript (69 MB)

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Public Hearing - June 10, 1986

Transcript

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Public Hearing - May 22, 1986

Remarks

Transcript (45 MB)

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Public Hearing - April 15, 1986

Notice

Testimony

Transcript (60 MB)

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Public Hearings

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