N.D. Cal. · MurderFY2018–FY2025
Districts › Northern District of California
Murder in the Northern District of California
N.D. Cal. · Ninth 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 87–384 months; mean 257. 16 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
Murder was the primary offence type in 84 cases sentenced in the Northern District of California between FY2018 and FY2025 (2% of the district's cases), with 10 in FY2025.
The median prison term was 264 months (22 years), close to the national median for murder offences (240 months) and close to the Ninth Circuit median (240). Half of prison terms fell between 87 and 384 months; 100% of cases carried a prison term.
20% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 38%); 75% were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons.
Caseload in FY2025 was about the same as in FY2018. The median prison term was about the same in FY2025 as in FY2018.
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 20%Above range 0%Below range, government sponsored 75%Below range, other <10Not determinable 0
§ 4Compared with the district, the circuit and the nation
| Measure | N.D. Cal., murder | N.D. Cal., all offences | 9th Cir., murder | US, murder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases per fiscal year | 11 | 444 | 45 | 384 |
| Share of district caseload | 2.4% | 100% | — | — |
| Median prison months | 264 | 30 | 240 | 240 |
| Mean prison months | 257 | 46 | — | 271 |
| Cases with a prison term | 100% | 88% | 100% | — |
| Within guideline range | 20% | 21% | 44% | 38% |
| Above range | 0% | 1% | 8% | 5% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 75% | 39% | 37% | 42% |
| Below range, other | — | 39% | 10% | 15% |
| Median final offence level | 41 | 20 | — | 40 |
§ 5Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 10 | 100% | 252 | — | — | 0% | 0% |
| FY2019 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2020 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2021 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2022 | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | |||||
| FY2023 | 17 | 100% | 204 | — | 82% | 0% | 0% |
| FY2024 | 28 | 100% | 282 | — | 68% | — | 0% |
| FY2025 | 10 | 100% | 255 | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
§ 6Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: murder offences nationally.
§ 7Guidelines applied
- §none · 233 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2A1.1 First degree murder · 67 cases in the district (all offence types)
- §2A1.5 · 11 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)
- §2A1.2 Second degree murder · <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 Northern District of California?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 264 months (22 years), with the middle half of terms between 87 and 384 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?
75% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 20% 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 §2A1.5.
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 Northern District of California
- Drug Trafficking 1,271
- Firearms 699
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 555
- Immigration 140
- Child Pornography 127
- Robbery 107
- Money Launder 82
- Assault 66
- Sex Abuse 66
§ 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 67. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.