Categorical Approach

In May 2026, the Federal Public & Community Defenders' Guidelines Committee sent our annual letter to the Sentencing Commission requesting that the Commission prioritize various guidelines and other sentencing issues during the upcoming amendment cycle.

The Federal Public & Community Defenders submitted to the Sentencing Commission our comments and supplemental comments regarding the Commission's proposed January 2026 Amendments

In July 2025, the Federal Defenders' Guidelines Committee submitted Defenders' 2025 Priority Le

In May 2025, the Federal Defenders' Guidelines Committee submitted Defenders' 2025 Annual Letter to the Sentencing Commission identifying guideline amendment and related topics Defenders' would like the Commission to address in the 2025-26 amendment cycle.

The Federal Public & Community Defenders submitted to the Sentencing Commission our comments regarding the Commission's proposed December 2024 Amendments.

In response to the Sentencing Commission's call for proposals on potential priorities, Federal Public and Community Defenders submitted the attached letter calling for reforms: recalibrating guideline ranges downward; revising the relevant-conduct guideline so it does not sweep in dismissed and uncharged conduct; and substantially narrowing the reach of the career-offender guideline.

The Federal Public & Community Defenders submitted to the Sentencing Commission our comment regarding the Commission's proposed priorities for the 2023-2024 amendment cycle. 

The Federal Public and Community Defenders have submitted our comments on all of the Sentencing Commission's proposed amendments for this amendment cycle. It turns out that we have a lot to say!

Defender witnesses submitted written testimony on many additional guideline amendments that are the subject of hearings to be held March 7-8, 2023 before the Sentencing Commission: criminal history, career offender, firearm offenses, circuit splits (acceptance of responsibility and controlled substance offense), legal changes brought by the First Step Act of 2018, and counterfeit pills.

Federal Public and Community Defenders, by Federal Defender Sentencing Guidelines Committee Chair Michael Caruso, commented on the Sentencing Commission's proposed policy priorities.