About the Commission

The U.S. Sentencing 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.  The Commission also continuously establishes and amends sentencing guidelines for the judicial branch and assists the other branches in developing effective and efficient crime policy. Learn the basics of federal sentencing.

 

2017 Statistics Guidelines App
Full Manual

 

  • Research and Data
    Quick Facts on Mandatory Minimum Penalties

    (May 2018) In FY17, the Commission received data on 13,577 offenders convicted of an offense carrying a mandatory minimum; 62.7% of these offenders remained subject to the penalty at sentencing....

    Learn more
  • Research and Data
    Retroactivity Data for 2014 Drug Amendment

    (May 2018) 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.

    Learn more
  • Research and Data
    Final FY 2017 Quarterly Report on Federal Sentencing Data

    (March 2018) This quarterly report contains final quarterly data on cases in which the offender was sentenced during fiscal year 2017.

    Learn more
  • Research and Data
    Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Federal Firearms Offenses

    (March 2018) This report presents data on the use and impact of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), two firearms offenses carrying mandatory minimum penalties.

    Learn more

2017-2018 Amendment Cycle

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

  • Event

    August 17, 2017

    A public meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Thursday, August 17, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the United States Sentencing Commission.


    Watch the meeting.

    Learn more

  • Public Comment

    August 11, 2017

    Public Comment on Synthetic Drugs
    82 FR 28382

    The Commission received comment on synthetic drugs, including MDMA/Ecstasy and methylone.

    Learn more

  • Public Comment

    July 31, 2017

    Public Comment Received on Proposed Priorities
    82 FR 28381

    The Commission received public comment on proposed priorities, including the structure of the guidelines, mandatory minimum penalties, crimes of violence, alternatives to incarceration, recidivism, and others.

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    June 22, 2017

    The Commission has proposed priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2018 and has requested public comment.


    Public comment should be received by the Commission on or before July 31, 2017. 


    82 FR 28381

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    June 22, 2017

    The Commission is requesting public comment on issues related to MDMA/Ecstasy and methylone. 


    Public comment should be received by the Commission on or before August 7, 2017.


    82 FR 28382

    Learn more

  • Event

    December 05, 2017

    A public hearing was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. (ET).  This hearing was streamed live. 


     

    Commissioners received testimony on fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and synthetic cannabinoids.

    Learn more

  • Public Comment

    November 13, 2017

    Public Comment on Fentanyl & Fentanyl Analogues
    82 FR 47322

    The Commission received comment on fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.

    Learn more

  • Public Comment

    October 27, 2017

    Public Comment on Synthetic Drugs
    82 FR 40648

    The Commission received comment on Synthetic Cathinones, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and Synthetic Cannabinoids.

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    October 11, 2017

    The Commission is seeking comment on a policy priority pertaining to fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.

     

    Public comment should be received by the Commission no later than November 13, 2017.


    82 FR 47322

    Learn more

  • Event

    October 04, 2017

    A public hearing was held on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m (ET). This hearing was streamed live.


     

    The Commission received testimony on synthetic cathinones.

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    August 24, 2017

    The Commission is seeking comment on a policy priority pertaining to synthetic cathinones, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and synthetic cannabinoids.


    Public comment should be received by the Commission no later than October 27, 2017.


    82 FR 40648

    Learn more

  • Press Release

    August 17, 2017

     

    U.S. Sentencing Commission announces its list of 2017-2018 policy priorities, proposes "holdover" amendments. 

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    August 17, 2017

    The Commission has finalized policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2018.


    82 FR 39949

    Learn more

  • Public Comment

    March 28, 2018

    Reply Comment Received on Proposed Amendments
    (83 FR 3869)

    The Commission received reply comment on proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines related to synthetic drugs.

     
    Learn more

  • Event

    March 14, 2018

     

    A public hearing was held on March 14, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. (ET). This hearing was streamed live.  A video recording is available.

     

     

    Commissioners received testimony on proposed amendments related to Synthetic Drugs and First Offenders/Alternatives to Incarceration.

    Learn more

  • Public Comment

    March 06, 2018

    Public Comment on Proposed Amendments
    83 FR 3869

    The Commission received comment on proposed amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines.

    Learn more

  • Event

    February 08, 2018

    A public hearing was held on February 8, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. (ET).  This hearing was streamed live.  A video recording of this event is available. 


     

    Commissioners received testimony on proposed amendments related to the Bipartisan Budget Act, Tribal Issues, and Acceptance of Responsibility.

    Learn more

  • Video

    January 31, 2018

     

    Watch this data briefing, which provides information related to the trafficking of synthetic cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues.

    Download accompanying slides.

    Learn more

  • Amendments

    January 25, 2018

    This document contains unofficial text of proposed amendments to the sentencing guidelines provided only for the convenience of the user in the preparation of public comment.    The proposed amendments and issues for comment are subject to a public comment period running through March 6, 2018 and a reply comment period running through March 28, 2018.

     

    "Reader-Friendly" Version of Proposed Amendments

     

     

     

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    January 25, 2018

    The Commission has proposed amendments to the guidelines and has requested public comment.


    Public comment will be accepted through March 6, 2018. Written reply comments will be accepted through March 28, 2018.

    Federal Register Notice

    Learn more

  • Event

    January 19, 2018

     

    A public meeting was held on January 19, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. (ET) At the meeting, commissioners voted to publish additional proposed guideline amendments and issues for comment. The meeting was streamed live.   

    Learn more

  • Press Release

    January 19, 2018

     

    U.S. Sentencing Commission proposes package of synthetic drugs amendments; new classes of synthetic drugs and increases to fentanyl penalties among proposals. 

    Learn more

  • Federal Register Notice

    May 04, 2018

    The Commission submitted to Congress amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines with an effective date of November 1, 2018.

    Download the Notice

    Learn more

  • Amendments

    April 30, 2018

     

    These documents contain official and unofficial text of final amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, which were submitted to Congress on April 30, 2018 (effective November 1, 2018).

    "Reader-Friendly" Amendments

    Official Text of Amendments

    Learn more

  • Event

    April 12, 2018

     

    A public meeting of the Commission was held on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. (ET) pursuant to Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure.

     

    This meeting was streamed live and a video recording is available. 

    Learn more

  • Press Release

    April 12, 2018

     

    U.S. Sentencing Commission adopts 2018 amendments; new classes of synthetic drugs and increases to fentanyl penalties among amendments. 

    Press Release

    Learn more
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