About the Commission

The Commission, a bipartisan, independent agency located in the judicial branch of government, was created by Congress in 1984 to reduce sentencing disparities and promote transparency and proportionality in sentencing.

The Commission collects, analyzes, and distributes a broad array of information on federal sentencing practices, continuously establishing and amending sentencing guidelines for the judicial branch and assisting the other branches in developing effective and efficient crime policy.

federal sentencing: the basics
2015 Statistics Recent Amendments
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  • Research and Data
    Retroactivity Data for 2014 Drug Amendment

    (October 25, 2016) This report provides information on motions for a reduced sentence pursuant to the retroactive application of Amendment 782, which reduced the drug quantity table by two levels...

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  • Research and Data
    Quick Facts on Organizational Offenders

    (October 20, 2016) Learn more about offenses committed by corporations, partnerships, pension funds, and non-profits. The most common offense involved in these cases was environmental crime.

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  • Research and Data
    Quick Facts on Offenders in Bureau of Prisons

    (October 11, 2016) Learn more about offenders serving time in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, including the crimes they committed and the sentences they're serving.

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  • Research and Data
    Simple Possession of Drugs in the Federal System

    (September 21, 2016) The number of simple drug possession offenses increased nearly 400 percent between fiscal years 2008 and 2013. This report analyzes the dramatic increase in these federal cases...

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  • Research and Data
    3rd Quarterly Report on Federal Sentencing Data

    (September 8, 2016) This quarterly report contains preliminary data about selected sentencing issues and reflects cases in which the offender was setenced during the first three quarters of FY16....

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2016-2017 Amendment Cycle

  • proposed priorities
  • final priorities
  • proposed amendments
  • final amendments

  • Meetings and Hearings

    August 18, 2016

    A public meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Thursday, August 18, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission. Video of the event is available.

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  • Public Comment

    July 25, 2016

    Public Comment Received on Proposed Priorities
    (81 FR 37241)

    The Commission received public comment on proposed priorities for the upcoming amendment cycle.

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  • Meetings and Hearings

    July 21, 2016

    A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday, July 21, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This hearing will be streamed live.

     

    The Commission will receive testimony from members of the Tribal Issues Advisory Group (TIAG) on its final tribal issues report.

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  • Federal Register Notice

    June 09, 2016

    The Commission is seeking comment on possible priority policy issues for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2017 (81 FR 37241).


    Deadline: July 25, 2016.


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  • Press Release

    August 18, 2016

     

    U.S. Sentencing Commission announces its list of 2016-2017 policy priorities. 

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  • Federal Register Notice

    August 18, 2016

    After reviewing public comment, the Commission has identified its policy priorities for the upcoming amendment cycle.

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  • Federal Register Notice

    August 18, 2016

    The Commission has decided to establish a standing Tribal Issues Advisory Group and invites eligible applicants to apply for membership.

    Download the Notice

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