NCJ Number
156492
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 64 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1995) Pages: 17-21
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article explains the changes to sentencing guidelines made by the US Sentencing Commission and how those changes affect enforcement of Federal drug laws.
Abstract
Sentencing guidelines, in conjunction with Federal mandatory minimum sentences, have resulted in longer prison sentences for offenders who violate Federal drug laws. Federal judges sentence offenders according to a table established by the guidelines. These guidelines base punishments on the type and the amount of the drug, as well as the criminal history of the defendant, the severity of the crime, and other aggravating or mitigating factors. The commission recognized that some cases will not fit the guidelines and will require departures. However, judges who depart from the guidelines must provide written justification for so doing. The guidelines have brought uniformity to Federal sentencing, but have also generated considerable controversy. Some critics consider the guidelines harsh and inflexible, while others believe they are not strict enough. Federal judges criticize the guidelines mainly because they limit judges' discretion in sentencing. The article contains Drug Offense Sentencing Tables. Endnotes