NCJ Number
206239
Date Published
2004
Length
58 pages
Annotation
This report presents the fiscal year 2002 Annual Report of the United States Sentencing Commission.
Abstract
Following the Year In Review for Fiscal Year 2002, chapter 1 presents an overview of the Commission. A brief history of Federal sentencing reform is sketched and the agency’s organizational structure is outlined, including a snapshot of the budget and expenditures for fiscal year 2002. Chapter 2 reviews the Sentencing Guideline Amendments for fiscal year 2002. The Commission, as directed by Congress, has adopted an evolutionary approach to guideline development in which guidelines are adapted in light of district court sentencing practices, appellate court decisions, research, new statutes, and input from Federal criminal justice practitioners. Under review in this section are amendments that address congressional legislation and amendments addressing issues of Commission interest, such as the ensuring that serious firearm career offenders are sentenced at or near the statutory maximum of life imprisonment. Policy teams and advisory groups of the Commission are described. Chapter 3 focuses on the legal issues that affect the work of the Sentencing Commission, such as United States Supreme Court decisions and decision of the United States Courts of Appeals. Specific legal issues are considered, including the constitutionality of the Sentencing Guidelines Enhancements; the criminal sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 16 years; and the unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, or trafficking drugs, among others. Chapter 4 reports on the training and education provided on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines during 2002. Training programs were offered at 74 different training sites around the country; approximately 4,823 individuals received training. Specialized training programs are described, such as the Defense Attorney Training Initiative and the Organizational Guidelines Workshops. Finally, chapter 5 reports on the fulfillment of the statutory research requirements by the Commission. Main research findings are reported, and include the fact that guideline cases increased from 59,897 cases in 2001 to 64,366 cases in 2002. Federal offenders received a sentence of, on average, 55.4 months in prison and nearly two-thirds of offenders were sentenced with their applicable guideline range. Offender characteristics are described and monetary sanctions imposed under the guidelines are reviewed.