District Sentencing

D.N.J. · AssaultFY2018–FY2025

Districts › District of New Jersey

Assault in the District of New Jersey

D.N.J. · Third Circuit · Assault 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.

12cases, FY202556 over FY2018–FY2025
84median prison monthsnational, this offence: 46
41%within guideline rangenational 48%
—cases with a prison termnational 91%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
<10
<10
27%
22%
<10
<10
<10
median 84 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 (51 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: assault offences nationally.

Interquartile range 30–125 months; mean 94. <10 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Assault was the primary offence type in 56 cases sentenced in the District of New Jersey between FY2018 and FY2025 (1% of the district's cases), with 12 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 84 months (7 years), longer than the national median for assault offences (46 months) and longer than the Third Circuit median (65). Half of prison terms fell between 30 and 125 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

41% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 48%); 43% were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons.

Caseload in FY2025 was about the same as in FY2023. The median prison term in FY2025 (85 months) was longer than in FY2023 (56 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 41%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 43%Below range, other <10Not determinable <10

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

MeasureD.N.J., assaultD.N.J., all offences3d Cir., assaultUS, assault
Cases per fiscal year<1064720778
Share of district caseload1.1%100%——
Median prison months84376546
Mean prison months9452—73
Cases with a prison term—86%—91%
Within guideline range41%37%40%48%
Above range—1%—8%
Below range, government sponsored43%41%40%22%
Below range, other—21%15%22%
Median final offence level2521—20

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
11
12
12
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Assault cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
<10
<10
<10
<10
<10
56
124
85
’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
FY2018<10fewer than 10 cases
FY2019<10fewer than 10 cases
FY2020<10fewer than 10 cases
FY2021<10fewer than 10 cases
FY2022<10fewer than 10 cases
FY202311100%56——0%—
FY202412100%124—83%0%—
FY202512—85———0%

§ 6Criminal history

Category I20% · 39%
Category II<10
Category III33% · 17%
Category IV<10
Category V<10
Category VI20% · 13%

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: assault 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 assault offences in the District of New Jersey?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 84 months (7 years), with the middle half of terms between 30 and 125 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for assault offences is 46 months.

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

43% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 41% 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, assault offences had a median prison term of 46 months and a within-range share of 48% over the same period. The district's figures are above on median term and lower than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2A2.2 and §2A2.1.

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 New Jersey

§ 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 4; district is CIRCDIST 14. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.