Public Hearings

Public Hearing - February 17, 2026

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

Public Hearing - October 4, 2017

Amendment Cycle

Final Priorities

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

Chair's Remarks

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - October 4, 2017

Video

October 2017

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

Learn More

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...

Learn More

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

Learn More

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...

Learn More

Public Hearing - July 21, 2016

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Priorities

Transcript

Learn More

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...

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 16, 2016

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 16, 2016

March 2016

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

Learn More

Public Hearing - February 17, 2016

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

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

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - February 17, 2016

February 2016

Learn More

Public Hearing - November 5, 2015

November 2015

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 12, 2015

March 2015

Learn More

Public Hearing - June 10, 2014

June 2014

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 13, 2014

March 2014

Learn More

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

Learn More

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

January 2012

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Learn More

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

January 2011

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Learn More

May 18, 2010

Press Releases

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

January 13, 2010

Press Releases

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

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Learn More

November 13, 2009

Press Releases

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

Learn More

Federal Register Notice of Final 2009 Priorities

September 2009

Amendment Cycle

Final Priorities

Learn More

Federal Register Notice of Proposed Priorities and Request for Public Comment

June 2009

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Priorities

Learn More

May 22, 2009

Press Releases

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

Learn More

February 3, 2009

Press Releases

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

Learn More

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

Learn More

January 13, 2009

Press Releases

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

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 13, 2008

Testimony (100 MB)

Learn More

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

Learn More

December 11, 2007

Press Releases

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

Learn More

Federal Register Notice of 2007 Public Hearing

October 2007

Amendment Cycle

Adopted Amendments

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 20, 2007

Testimony (143 MB)

Transcript

Learn More

November 14, 2006

Press Releases

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

Learn More

November 14, 2006

Press Releases

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

Learn More

Public Hearing - November 14, 2006

Testimony - Part I (84 MB)

Testimony - Part II (120 MB)

Learn More

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...

Learn More

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...

Learn More

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...

Learn More

Public Hearing - November 14, 2002

Testimony (55 MB)

Learn More

March 1, 2001

Press Releases

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

Amendment Cycle

Adopted Amendments

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 23, 2000

Testimony (102 MB)

Transcript (43 MB)

Learn More

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...

Learn More

Public Hearing - June 17, 1998

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 12, 1998

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 5, 1998

Transcript (7 MB)

Testimony Part I (49 MB)

Testimony Part II (17 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - October 15, 1997

Transcript

Testimony

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 18, 1997

Testimony (62 MB)

Transcript (26 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - August 12, 1996

Transcript (121 MB)

Learn More

July 22, 1996

Press Releases

- Public Hearing on Guideline Simplification.

Learn More

March 11, 1996

Press Releases

- Public Hearing – Amendments.

Amendment Cycle

Proposed Amendments

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 11, 1996

Transcript (23 MB)

Testimony (21 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 24, 1994

Transcript (12 MB)

Testimony (116 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - November 9, 1993

Transcript (73 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 22, 1993

Transcript (45 MB)

Testimony - Part I (41 MB)

Testimony - Part II (58 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 12, 1988

Testimony

Learn More

Public Hearing - March 11, 1987

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - February 17, 1987

Transcript

Testimony

Learn More

Public Hearing - December 2, 1986

Transcript

Testimony

Learn More

Public Hearing - November 18, 1986

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - November 5, 1986

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - October 29, 1986

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - October 21, 1986

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - September 23, 1986

Testimony

Learn More

Public Hearing - July 15, 1986

Transcript (69 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - June 10, 1986

Transcript

Learn More

Public Hearing - May 22, 1986

Remarks

Transcript (45 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearing - April 15, 1986

Notice

Testimony

Transcript (60 MB)

Learn More

Public Hearings

Sign Up for Email Updates