D.P.R. · MurderFY2018–FY2025
Districts › District of Puerto Rico
Murder in the District of Puerto Rico
D.P.R. · First Circuit · Murder 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.
§ 1Length of prison terms
Interquartile range 178–324 months; mean 257. 19 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
Murder was the primary offence type in 133 cases sentenced in the District of Puerto Rico between FY2018 and FY2025 (2% of the district's cases), with 12 in FY2025.
The median prison term was 240 months (20 years), close to the national median for murder offences (240 months) and close to the First Circuit median (240). Half of prison terms fell between 178 and 324 months; 100% of cases carried a prison term.
27% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 38%); 58% were below the range on a government motion and 13% below it for other reasons.
FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2019 (12 against 30). The median prison term was about the same in FY2025 as in FY2019.
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 27%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 58%Below range, other 13%Not determinable 0
§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation
| Measure | D.P.R., murder | D.P.R., all offences | 1st Cir., murder | US, murder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases per fiscal year | 17 | 966 | 23 | 384 |
| Share of district caseload | 1.7% | 100% | — | — |
| Median prison months | 240 | 60 | 240 | 240 |
| Mean prison months | 257 | 66 | — | 271 |
| Cases with a prison term | 100% | 89% | 100% | — |
| Within guideline range | 27% | 51% | 32% | 38% |
| Above range | — | 7% | — | 5% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 58% | 25% | 53% | 42% |
| Below range, other | 13% | 16% | 13% | 15% |
| Median final offence level | 40 | 21 | — | 40 |
§ 5Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2019 | 30 | 100% | 240 | 37% | 50% | — | 0% |
| FY2020 | 15 | 100% | 320 | — | — | — | — |
| FY2021 | 12 | 100% | 194 | — | — | — | 0% |
| FY2022 | 23 | 100% | 216 | — | 78% | — | — |
| FY2023 | 20 | 100% | 192 | — | 80% | 0% | — |
| FY2024 | 18 | 100% | 252 | — | — | 0% | 0% |
| FY2025 | 12 | 100% | 211 | — | — | — | 0% |
§ 6Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: murder offences nationally.
§ 7Guidelines applied
- §none · 336 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2A1.1 First degree murder · 123 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2A1.2 Second degree murder · 10 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2X3.1 Accessory after the fact · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2X1.1 Attempt, solicitation or conspiracy (not covered by a specific guideline) · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
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 murder offences in the District of Puerto Rico?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 240 months (20 years), with the middle half of terms between 178 and 324 months. 100% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for murder offences is 240 months.
How often are murder offences sentenced below the guideline range here?
58% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 13% below it for other reasons; 27% 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, murder offences had a median prison term of 240 months and a within-range share of 38% over the same period. The district's figures are close to 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, §2A1.1 and §2A1.2.
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 Puerto Rico
- Drug Trafficking 3,763
- Firearms 1,200
- Immigration 861
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 577
- Robbery 405
- Money Launder 205
- Sex Abuse 139
- Child Pornography 124
- Administration of Justice 88
- Bribery/Corruption 53
§ 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 22; district is CIRCDIST 05. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.