Sentencing Commission

Sentencing Commission Type: Independent Agencies Parent organization: Employees: 100 Executive: Chair Budget: $17,500,000 (FY 2021) Address: One Columbus Circle NE, Suite 2-500, Washington, DC 20002-8002, USA Website: https://www.ussc.gov/ Creation Legislation: Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 Wikipedia: Sentencing Commission

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Mission The USSC develops and refines federal sentencing guidelines to promote consistency and proportionality in sentencing, advises Congress on sentencing policy, and provides training and education to judges on guideline application.

Services Guideline Development; Policy Advice; Judicial Training

Regulations

United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) is an independent agency within the judicial branch of the U.S. government that is responsible for establishing sentencing policies and practices for the federal criminal justice system. By developing and amending federal sentencing guidelines, the USSC aims to ensure fairness, consistency, and proportionality in sentencing, while also providing advisory services to Congress and educational resources for judges.

Official Site

Mission

The mission of the United States Sentencing Commission is to reduce sentencing disparities and promote transparency and proportionality in federal sentencing. Through the creation and revision of sentencing guidelines, the USSC seeks to ensure that punishments fit the crime while advising Congress on sentencing policy and educating judicial officers on the application of these guidelines.

Parent organization

The USSC operates independently but is part of the judicial branch of the U.S. government, with its members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Legislation

The USSC was established by the [Sentencing Reform Act of 1984](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-98/pdf/STATUTE-98-Pg1987.pdf), which was part of the broader Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984.

Partners

• Works with the Judicial Conference of the United States
• Collaborates with various federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, for data and insights on sentencing practices.

Number of employees

The USSC has approximately 100 employees.

Organization structure

Leader

The USSC is led by a **Chair**.

Divisions

• **Guidelines Development** responsible for creating and amending sentencing guidelines.
• **Research and Data** which collects and analyzes sentencing data to inform guideline revisions.
• **Training and Education** for providing instructional programs to judges and court personnel on guideline use.

List of programs

• Guidelines Manual - Provides comprehensive sentencing guidelines
• Training Programs - Workshops and seminars for judicial education
• Policy Development - Analysis and recommendations on sentencing policy

Last total enacted budget

The budget for FY 2021 was approximately $17.5 million.

Staff

The USSC staff includes researchers, legal analysts, training specialists, and administrative support, totaling about 100 employees.

Funding

The USSC is funded through Congressional appropriations, which are designated specifically for the operations of the Commission including staff salaries, research, and educational activities.

Services provided

The USSC provides services by developing sentencing guidelines, offering policy advice to Congress, and conducting training for federal judges on how to apply these guidelines. This includes data collection and analysis on sentencing trends, which informs guideline amendments and policy recommendations.

Regulations overseen

While the USSC doesn't oversee regulations in the traditional sense, it significantly influences sentencing practices through its guidelines, which courts consider in federal sentencing.

Headquarters address

One Columbus Circle NE, Suite 2-500, Washington, DC 20002-8002, USA

History

Created by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, the USSC was established to reduce sentencing disparities by standardizing federal sentencing practices. Since its inception, the Commission has periodically revised its guidelines to reflect changes in law, societal norms, and empirical data, aiming to ensure that sentences are fair and effective.

External links

• Official Website
• wikipedia:United States Sentencing Commission