NCJ Number
137889
Date Published
1991
Length
700 pages
Annotation
In enacting the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, the U.S. Congress sought to instill honesty in sentencing, establish reasonable uniformity by narrowing the wide disparity of sentences imposed for similar offenses, and create proportionality through a system that would impose appropriately different sentences for offenses of different severity. These guidelines, published by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, also incorporate effective amendments.
Abstract
An introductory chapter sets out the general application principles of the guidelines, while the bulk of the manual covers offense conduct. The guidelines deal with offenses against the person or involving property, public officials, drugs, criminal enterprises, fraud prostitution or other sexual exploitation, individual rights, the administration of justice, immigration, public safety, national defense, food or agricultural products, prisons, and the environment as well as antitrust offenses, money laundering and monetary transaction reporting, and offenses involving taxation. A separate chapter discusses adjustments including victim-related adjustments, role in the offense, obstruction, multiple counts, and acceptance of responsibility. Criminal history and criminal livelihood also enter the equation of sentencing. Sentence determination is based on a sentencing table and takes into consideration probation, imprisonment, supervised release, restitution or forfeitures, and other sentencing options. The final chapters examine sentencing procedures and plea agreements, violations of probation and supervised release, and sentencing of organizations. 3 appendixes