District Sentencing

E.D. Okla. · MurderFY2018–FY2025

Districts › Eastern District of Oklahoma

Murder in the Eastern District of Oklahoma

E.D. Okla. · Tenth 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.

17cases, FY2025103 over FY2018–FY2025
300median prison monthsnational, this offence: 240
58%within guideline rangenational 38%
100%cases with a prison termnational —

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
<10
12%
13%
26%
15%
25%
median 300 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 (103 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: murder offences nationally.

Interquartile range 210–life months; mean 304. 26 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Murder was the primary offence type in 103 cases sentenced in the Eastern District of Oklahoma between FY2018 and FY2025 (8% of the district's cases), with 17 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 300 months (25 years), longer than the national median for murder offences (240 months) and longer than the Tenth Circuit median (240). Half of prison terms fell between 210 and life months; 100% of cases carried a prison term.

58% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 38%); 19% were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons.

Caseload in FY2025 was about the same as in FY2022. The median prison term in FY2025 (384 months) was longer than in FY2022 (210 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 58%Above range 18%Below range, government sponsored 19%Below range, other <10Not determinable 0

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

MeasureE.D. Okla., murderE.D. Okla., all offences10th Cir., murderUS, murder
Cases per fiscal year1316943384
Share of district caseload7.6%100%——
Median prison months30063240240
Mean prison months304109—271
Cases with a prison term100%95%——
Within guideline range58%62%42%38%
Above range18%7%16%5%
Below range, government sponsored19%18%35%42%
Below range, other—13%8%15%
Median final offence level3523—40

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

<10
<10
<10
<10
19
28
32
17
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Murder cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
<10
<10
<10
<10
210
324
282
384
’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
FY20190fewer than 10 cases
FY20200fewer than 10 cases
FY2021<10fewer than 10 cases
FY202219100%210————
FY202328100%32471%—0%—
FY202432100%28269%———
FY202517100%38471%———

§ 6Criminal history

Category I42% · 37%
Category II15% · 14%
Category III14% · 17%
Category IV10% · 11%
Category V12% · 8%
Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: murder 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 murder offences in the Eastern District of Oklahoma?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 300 months (25 years), with the middle half of terms between 210 and life 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?

19% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 58% 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 above on median term and higher than the national within-range share.

Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §none, §2A1.2 and §2A1.1.

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 Eastern District of Oklahoma

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