District Sentencing

D.D.C. · RobberyFY2018–FY2025

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Robbery in the District of Columbia

D.D.C. · District of Columbia Circuit · Robbery 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.

26cases, FY2025103 over FY2018–FY2025
87median prison monthsnational, this offence: 93
36%within guideline rangenational 39%
—cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
<10
22%
31%
22%
10%
<10
<10
median 87 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 (101 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: robbery offences nationally.

Interquartile range 51–121 months; mean 98. <10 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

103 robbery offences were sentenced in the District of Columbia across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 26 of them in FY2025; that is 4% of the district's caseload.

The median prison term was 87 months (7 yr 3 mo), close to the national median for robbery offences (93 months) and close to the District of Columbia Circuit median (87). Half of prison terms fell between 51 and 121 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

36% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 39%); 17% were below the range on a government motion and 46% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had more cases than FY2018 (26 against 13). The median prison term in FY2025 (116 months) was longer than in FY2018 (42 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 36%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 17%Below range, other 46%Not determinable 0

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

MeasureD.D.C., robberyD.D.C., all offencesD.C. Cir., robberyUS, robbery
Cases per fiscal year13356131,460
Share of district caseload3.6%100%——
Median prison months87368793
Mean prison months9857—108
Cases with a prison term—89%—99%
Within guideline range36%44%36%39%
Above range—3%—6%
Below range, government sponsored17%23%17%27%
Below range, other46%31%46%28%
Median final offence level2419—24

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

13
12
<10
10
10
13
14
26
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Robbery cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
42
86
<10
50
88
72
121
116
’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
FY201813—42—0%85%0%
FY201912100%86———0%
FY2020<10fewer than 10 cases
FY202110100%50———0%
FY202210100%88———0%
FY202313100%72———0%
FY202414100%121—0%—0%
FY202526100%11642%———

§ 6Criminal history

Category I25% · 27%
Category II11% · 13%
Category III22% · 19%
Category IV17% · 13%
Category V11% · 9%
Category VI15% · 19%

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: robbery 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 robbery offences in the District of Columbia?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 87 months (7 yr 3 mo), with the middle half of terms between 51 and 121 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for robbery offences is 93 months.

How often are robbery offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

17% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 46% below it for other reasons; 36% 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, robbery offences had a median prison term of 93 months and a within-range share of 39% over the same period. The district's figures are close to 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, §2B3.1 and §2X1.1.

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 Columbia

§ 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 26; district is CIRCDIST 01. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.