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.
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.
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.
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.
Commission issues Report to the Congress: Career Offender Enhancements. Report analyzes career offenders’ prior criminal history, incarceration terms and recidivism rates, and makes statutory recommendations.
Commission votes to promulgate amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, including amendments to the immigration, compassionate release, and animal fighting guidelines.
- In the News: New York Law Journal publishes editorial by Chief Judge Patti B. Saris, Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, entitled “Commission Targets Changes for Subset of Economic Crimes”
- The Commission issues the first report on the results of its multi-year study on the recidivism of federal offenders followed over an eight year period.
Commissioners voted at a public meeting to promulgate an amendment to the guideline definition of a "crime of violence." Commissioners also voted to publish additional proposed guideline amendments. Commission seeks comment on revisions to immigration related guidelines, compassionate release, etc.
- Honorable Patti B. Saris, Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission praises the House Judiciary Committee's action to report sentencing reform legislation, "H.R. 3713, Sentencing Reform Act of 2015" to the full House for consideration.
- In the News: National Review Online publishes editorial by Circuit Judge William H. Pryor, Jr. entitled, “Why We Were Right to Reduce Sentencing Guidelines for Federal Drug Offenders” (November 4, 2015).
- Honorable Patti B. Saris, Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission praises the Senate Judiciary Committee's action to report sentencing reform legislation, "S.2123, Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015" to the full Senate for consideration.
- Commissioners voted at a public meeting to publish proposed guideline amendments. Commission seeks comment on revisions to fraud guidelines, increase in hydrocodone sentences.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission releases video to aid federal crime victims. The video release commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Crime Victims' Rights Act.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission unanimously approved its list of 2014-2015 priorities, including consideration of federal sentences for economic crimes and continued work on addressing concerns with mandatory minimum penalties.
– The Commission submits a statement for the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled âReevaluating the Effectiveness of Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentences.â
– Senate confirms three Sentencing Commissioners; Rachel E. Barkow; Judge Charles R. Breyer; and Judge William H. Pryor, Jr. added as members of the United States Sentencing Commission.
– The Commission adopted amendments enhancing sentences for theft of medical products and trade secrets, for trafficking in counterfeit drugs and military parts, and other offenses.
– The Commission submitted to Congress its report assessing the continuing impact of United States v. Booker on the federal sentencing system and reiterating statutory changes to strengthen the guideline system.
- On December 22, 2010, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Judge Patti B. Saris of the District of Massachusetts to be chair of the Commission. The Senate also unanimously confirmed Dabney Friedrich of Maryland for a second term as a member of the Commission.
- Commission votes to send to Congress guideline amendments providing more alternatives to incarceration, increasing consideration of certain specific offender characteristics during the sentencing process.
- U.S. Sentencing Commission Seeks Comment on Alternatives to Incarceration, Specific Offender Characteristics Relevant to Sentencing, and Hate Crimes.
- United States Sentencing Commission votes to amend guidelines for Terrorism, Sex Offenses, Intellectual Property Offenses, and Crack Cocaine Offenses.
- Emergency Guideline Amendments on Obstruction of Justice and Intellectual Property Crimes Take Effect; Aggravated Identity Theft and Antitrust Amendments Also Become Effective.
- Sentencing Commission Toughens Requirements for Corporate Compliance and Ethics Programs; Agency Also Announces Increased Prison Sentences for Sex Offenses and Offenses Involving Hazardous Materials and Spamming.
- Sentencing Commission Targets Corrupt Public Officials; Agency Also Takes Aim at Portable Rockets and Missiles — Commission Also Increases Penalties for Body Armor and Other Offenses.
- Sentencing Commission Toughens Penalties for Terrorism, Oxycodone Trafficking, and Campaign Finance Offenses; Agency Also Announces Study of Departures from Sentencing Guidelines.
- Sentencing Commission Increases Penalties for High Dollar Fraud Offenders, Sexual Predators, and Ecstasy Traffickers; Commission Also Amends Money Laundering Guidelines.
- Sentencing Commission Seeks to Increase Penalties for Counterfeiting and Amphetamine Offenses; Agency Also Implements Guidelines for Human Trafficking Offenses.