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United States Sentencing Commission

Guidelines
2016 Guidelines Manual

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Sentencing Table

Amendments

Organizational Guidelines

Primers
Relevant information

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.
Research
2015 Sourcebook

Archive

Interactive Sourcebook

Quick Facts

DATA REPORTS

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Relevant information

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.

Public Access to Commission Data and Documents
Policymaking
Meetings & Hearings

Public Comment

Federal Register Notices
Relevant information

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.

Rules of Practice and Procedure
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Applying the Guidelines

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Sentencing Policy

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Relevant information

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 materials on guideline application, background information on some of the Commission’s policy decisions, and summaries of sentencing-related case law.
About
2015 Annual Report

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Relevant information

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.

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

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U.S. v. Booker

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U.S. v. Booker

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Close

2017 National Seminar Series

May 31, 2017

Topic:

National Seminar

Immigration

Immigration (November 2016) This primer is intended to provide an overview of sentencing-related criminal immigration topics. It is not a comprehensive compilation of issues and is not a substitute for reading and interpreting the actual cases, statutes, and Guidelines Manual . Rather, it should serve as a helpful supplement to those primary sources.

Topic:

Alien Smuggling

Backgrounder

Illegal Reentry

Immigration

Primer

Training

Worksheets for Individual Offenders

Individual Offender Worksheets (November 2016) These worksheets are available to assist the courts in applying the federal sentencing guidelines in an individual offender's case, including determining the applicable offense level, criminal history score, and guideline range. These worksheets are keyed to the 2016 Guidelines Manual .

Topic:

Advanced Guideline Issues

Backgrounder

Training

Worksheets

Worksheets for Organizational Offenders

Organizational Worksheets (November 2016) These worksheets are available to assist the courts in applying Chapter Eight of the federal sentencing guidelines, including determining the applicable offense level and fine range, grouping of multiple counts, etc. These worksheets are keyed to the 2016 Guidelines Manual .

Topic:

Backgrounder

Corporate Crime

Organizations

Training

Worksheets

2016 Guideline Amendments

November 01, 2016

Topic:

Alien Smuggling

Animal Fighting

Child Pornography

Compassionate Release

Courses

e-Learning

Illegal Reentry

Immigration

Probation

Supervised Release

Training

2016 Annual National Seminar

September 07, 2016

Topic:

National Seminar

Economic Crime Victims

Economic Crime Victims (June 2016) This primer provides a general overview of some common issues regarding who may be considered a victim under USSG §2B1.1 (“Larceny, Embezzlement, and Other Forms of Theft; Offenses Involving Stolen Property; Property Damage or Destruction; Fraud or Deceit; Forgery; offenses Involving Altered or counterfeit Instruments Other than Counterfeit Bearer Obligations of...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Economic Crime

Primer

Training

Victims

Sexual Abuse and Failure to Register Offenses

Sexual Abuse and Failure to Register Offenses (June 2016) The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the statutes, sentencing guideline issues, and case law relating to sexual abuse and failure to register offenses.

Topic:

Backgrounder

Primer

Sex Offenses

Training

Commercial Sex Acts and Sexual Abuse of a Minor

Commercial Sex Acts and Sexual Abuse of a Minor (June 2016) The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the statutes, sentencing guideline issues, and case law relating to commercial sex acts and the sexual exploitation of minors.

Topic:

Backgrounder

Primer

Sex Offenses

Training

Supervised Release

Supervised Release (June 2016) This primer provides a general overview of the imposition and revocation of supervised release. A variety of statutes, guidelines and policies govern different aspects of the supervised release framework, and this primer is not a substitute for independent research and primary authority. To the extent this primer and its appendices identify case law, it is not...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Primer

Supervised Release

Training

Retroactivity

Retroactivity (June 2016) This primer addresses some common procedural questions that have arisen in the context of motions for sentence reductions under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and retroactive guideline amendments. Following the questions are cases that address the issue, including a parenthetical where additional information, such as a quotation of the pertinent language from the case, may be...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Primer

Resentencing

Retroactivity

Training

Fines Under the Organizational Guidelines

Fines Under the Organizational Guidelines (June 2016) Chapter Eight of the Guidelines Manual sets forth the guidelines and policy statements that are applicable when the convicted defendant is an organization and provides the criteria by which organizations convicted of federal criminal offenses will be punished. These guidelines, which were initially promulgated by the U.S. Sentencing Commission...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Corporate Crime

Organizations

Primer

Training

Loss Calculation

Loss Calculation (June 2016) This primer discusses issues often raised about economic loss and loss calculation under §2B1.1. Effective November 1, 2001, the Commission consolidated the theft and fraud guidelines into §2B1.1. As a part of this amendment, which is known as the Economic Crime Package, the Commission also modified the definition of loss such that it would be based on reasonably...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Economic Crime

Fraud

Loss

Primer

Training

Firearms

Firearms (June 2016) The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the major statutes, sentencing guidelines, issues, and case law relating to firearms offenses and enhancements for possession or use of firearms related to other offenses. Although the primer identifies some applicable cases and concepts, it is not intended as a comprehensive analysis of issues relating to all...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Firearms

Primer

Training

Drugs

Drugs (June 2016) The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the sentencing guidelines, pertinent statutes, issues, and case law regarding the application of the drug guidelines and relevant drug statutes. It is not, however, intended as a comprehensive compilation of all case law addressing these issues.

Topic:

Backgrounder

Drugs

Primer

Training

Departures and Variances

Departures and Variances (June 2016) This primer contains a summary of guideline provisions and annotations to judicial opinions addressing some of the most commonly applied grounds for departure. It also addresses issues relating to variances outside the guideline range. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers, and probation officers locate relevant authorities when applying the...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Departures/Variances

Primer

Training

Criminal History

Criminal History (June 2016) The purpose of this primer is to provide a general overview of the sentencing guidelines, pertinent statutes, issues, and case law relating to the calculation of a defendant’s criminal history pursuant to Chapter Four of the Guidelines. This primer focuses on some applicable cases and concepts relating to Chapter Four but is not intended as a comprehensive compilation...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Criminal History

Primer

Training

Aggravating and Mitigating Role Adjustments

Aggravating and Mitigating Role Adjustments (June 2016) This primer discusses issues related to adjustments pursuant to United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) §§3B1.1 and 3B1.2 based on the defendant’s aggravating or mitigating role in the offense. This primer addresses some of the procedural questions related to the adjustments, the definitions of terms used in the adjustments, and issues...

Topic:

Backgrounder

Primer

Role in the Offense

Training

2016 Crime of Violence Amendment

August 01, 2016

Topic:

Career Offender

Courses

Crimes of Violence

Criminal History

e-Learning

Training

Supreme Court Case Law

Selected Supreme Court Cases on Sentencing Issues (July 2015) This document discusses selected Supreme Court cases on sentencing issues. This document provided by the Commission's Legal Staff is offered to assist in understanding and applying the sentencing guidelines. The information in this document does not necessarily represent the official position of the Commission, and it should not be...

Topic:

Case Law

Primer

Supreme Court

Training

Applying the Proposed 2016 Immigration Amendment

February 26, 2016

Topic:

Advanced Guideline Issues

Illegal Reentry

Immigration

Proposed Amendments

Training

Video

2015 Guideline Amendments

November 01, 2015

Topic:

Courses

Drugs

Hydrocodone

Economic Crime

e-Learning

Role in the Offense

Training

Sentencing and Guidelines: Revised Statement of Reasons Form

November 01, 2015

Topic:

Statement of Reasons

Training

Video

Sentencing and Guidelines: Statement of Reasons Form

November 01, 2015

Topic:

CLE

Statement of Reasons

Training

Video

2015 Annual National Seminar

September 16, 2015

Topic:

National Seminar

Victims' Rights and Federal Sentencing

November 01, 2014

Topic:

Training

Victims

Video

USSC Live! Amendments for 2014

October 30, 2014

Topic:

2014 Drug Amendment

CLE

Drugs

Drug Trafficking

Training

Video

2014 Annual National Seminar

September 17, 2014

Topic:

National Seminar

USSC Live! Retroactivity, Alternatives and Online Data

August 19, 2014

Topic:

2014 Drug Amendment

Alternatives to Incarceration

CLE

Retroactivity

Training

Video

USSC LIVE! Criminal History Webcast

January 30, 2014

Topic:

Criminal History

Training

Video

USSC Update: Recent Congressional Reports

May 01, 2013

Topic:

Child Pornography

CLE

Reports to the Congress

Training

U.S. v. Booker

Video

Introduction to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines

November 01, 2012

Topic:

About Us

Guidelines

Training

Video

2012 Annual National Seminar

June 13, 2012

Topic:

National Seminar

2011 Annual National Seminar

May 18, 2011

Topic:

National Seminar

Advanced Guideline Issues: Multiple Counts

November 01, 2010

Topic:

Advanced Guideline Issues

CLE

Multiple Counts

Training

Video

2010 Annual National Seminar

June 16, 2010

Topic:

National Seminar

2009 Annual National Seminar

June 10, 2009

Topic:

National Seminar

Advanced Guideline Issues: Immigration

November 01, 2007

Topic:

Immigration

CLE

Advanced Guideline Issues

Training

Video

Advanced Guideline Issues: Relevant Conduct

November 01, 2007

Topic:

Advanced Guideline Issues

CLE

Relevant Conduct

Training

Video

Advanced Guideline Issues: Firearms

November 01, 2007

Topic:

Advanced Guideline Issues

CLE

Firearms

Training

Video

Eleventh Circuit Decisions

(July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Eleventh Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines.

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Tenth Circuit Decisions

(July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Tenth Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines.

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Ninth Circuit Decisions

(July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Ninth Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines.

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Eighth Circuit Decisions

Selected Eighth Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Eighth Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Seventh Circuit Decisions

Selected Seventh Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Seventh Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Sixth Circuit Decisions

Selected Sixth Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Sixth Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Fifth Circuit Decisions

Selected Fifth Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Fifth Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Fourth Circuit Decisions

Selected Fourth Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Fourth Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Third Circuit Decisions

Selected Third Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Third Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Second Circuit Decisions

Selected Second Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain Second Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

First Circuit Decisions

Selected First Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain First Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

D.C Circuit Decisions

Selected D.C. Circuit Guideline Application Decisions (July 2015) This document contains annotations to certain D.C. Circuit judicial opinions that involve issues related to the federal sentencing guidelines. The document was developed to help judges, lawyers and probation officers locate some relevant authorities involving the federal sentencing guidelines. The document is not comprehensive and...

Topic:

Case Law

Circuit

Primer

Training

Continuing Legal Education

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Information The U.S. Sentencing Commission offers courses that fulfill continuing legal education (CLE) requirements in several jurisdictions. Below you will find relevant course materials and faculty biographies. To receive CLE credit, you must fill out the continuing legal education application form and a certificate of attendance for the webinar (below). The...

Topic:

CLE

Training

Checklist for Multiple Count Groupings (§3D1.2)

For analysis of multiple count grouping, it may be useful to proceed in the following order: A. Exclude counts for which the statute mandates imposition of a consecutive sentence. See §3D1.1(b). B. Group all appropriate counts according to Rule (d). Complete only one Worksheet A for offenses of the same general type. Add the enhancements based on the total dollar/property loss or total drug...

Topic:

Advanced Guideline Issues

Multiple Counts

Training

USSC HelpLine

The HelpLine assists practitioners in applying the guidelines.

Contact: (202) 502-4545

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

U.S. Sentencing Commission

Office of Public Affairs
One Columbus Circle, NE
Suite 2-500, South Lobby
Washington, DC, 20002-8002

Main: (202) 502-4500

E-mail: PubAffairs@ussc.gov

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