Federal Sentencing Guidelines Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Federal Sentencing Guidelines?

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines are a set of rules and regulations that provide guidance to judges when determining the appropriate sentence for individuals convicted of federal crimes. These guidelines were created in 1984 as part of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act, under President Ronald Reagan’s administration. The purpose of these guidelines is to promote uniformity and consistency in sentencing decisions and reduce disparities based on race or other factors.The Federal Sentencing Guidelines are divided into two categories: offense levels and criminal history categories. Offense levels refer to the seriousness of the crime committed, while criminal history categories refer to a defendant’s prior record. Each category has different ranges for potential sentences depending on the particular circumstances surrounding each case. For example, an offense level 1 crime can range from probation up to 6 months imprisonment, while an offense level 43 crime can range from life imprisonment up to death penalty. In addition to these specific ranges, there are also aggravating or mitigating factors that may be taken into consideration when determining a sentence within each range. Aggravating factors typically increase the severity of punishment recommended by the guidelines while mitigating factors usually decrease it; however, judges have discretion when deciding whether or not they will take them into account when making their decision. Ultimately, although judges must follow the Federal Sentencing Guidelines when imposing sentences for federal crimes, they still maintain some flexibility in order to ensure justice is served in individual cases taking into consideration all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding each case.