District Sentencing

D. Ariz. · Sex AbuseFY2018–FY2025

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Sex Abuse in the District of Arizona

D. Ariz. · Ninth Circuit · Sex Abuse nationally

The datafile contains cases reported to the Commission with sentencing documents. Sentence length statistics use the Commission's capped variable (sentences of 470 months or longer, including life, are recorded as 470 months) and exclude sentences of probation or a fine only. Figures are aggregates of past cases and are not a prediction for any case.

28cases, FY2025265 over FY2018–FY2025
108median prison monthsnational, this offence: 180
38%within guideline rangenational 41%
—cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

4%
<10
7%
8%
11%
19%
18%
13%
10%
4%
4%
median 108 mo
under 6 mo6–11 mo1–2 yr2–3 yr3–5 yr5–10 yr10–15 yr15–20 yr20–30 yr30 yr+life
Share of cases with a prison term, by length of the term (262 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: sexual abuse offences nationally.

Interquartile range 45–188 months; mean 137. 10 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

265 sexual abuse offences were sentenced in the District of Arizona across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 28 of them in FY2025; that is 1% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 108 months (9 years), shorter than the national median for sexual abuse offences (180 months) and shorter than the Ninth Circuit median (144). Half of prison terms fell between 45 and 188 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

38% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 41%); 36% were below the range on a government motion and 16% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (28 against 35). The median prison term in FY2025 (120 months) was longer than in FY2018 (51 months).

These are aggregates of past cases. The guideline range for any case depends on its offence level, criminal history and statutory minimums, and the sentence on the court's findings; no figure here estimates an outcome.

§ 3Position relative to the guideline range

Within guideline range 38%Above range 10%Below range, government sponsored 36%Below range, other 16%Not determinable <10

§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation

MeasureD. Ariz., sex abuseD. Ariz., all offences9th Cir., sex abuseUS, sex abuse
Cases per fiscal year334,5631591,239
Share of district caseload0.7%100%——
Median prison months1089144180
Mean prison months13717—212
Cases with a prison term—92%99%99%
Within guideline range38%33%34%41%
Above range10%1%8%5%
Below range, government sponsored36%60%38%29%
Below range, other16%6%20%26%
Median final offence level3312—37

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

35
51
24
33
31
35
28
28
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Sex Abuse cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
51
102
152
92
120
120
121
120
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
Fiscal yearCasesPrisonMedian monthsWithin rangeBelow, gov.Below, otherAbove
FY201835—5146%40%——
FY201951—10229%39%——
FY202024100%15267%———
FY202133100%9233%36%——
FY202231100%12045%———
FY202335100%12034%40%——
FY202428100%121—46%——
FY202528100%120—52%——

§ 6Criminal history

Category I69% · 67%
Category II14% · 10%
Category III6% · 9%
Category IV4% · 5%
Category V5% · 6%
Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: sexual abuse offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

Primary guidelines the Commission associates with this offence type, with the district's caseload under each across all offence types.

§ 8Questions and answers

What is the typical sentence for sexual abuse offences in the District of Arizona?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 108 months (9 years), with the middle half of terms between 45 and 188 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

36% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 16% below it for other reasons; 38% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% over the same period. The district's figures are below on median term and close to the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2A3.1 and §2A3.2.

Is this a prediction for a particular case?

No. The figures are aggregates of sentences already imposed, as recorded by the US Sentencing Commission. They are not legal advice and do not estimate the outcome of any case.

§ 9Other offence types in the District of Arizona

§ 10Provenance

Source: United States Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles, fiscal years 2018–2025 (US government works), aggregated by this site; the FY2025 file is dated 29 Apr 2026. Offence type is the Commission's OFFGUIDE code 27; district is CIRCDIST 64. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.