District Sentencing

S.D. Ga. · FirearmsFY2018–FY2025

Districts › Southern District of Georgia

Firearms in the Southern District of Georgia

S.D. Ga. · Eleventh Circuit · Firearms 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.

65cases, FY2025730 over FY2018–FY2025
51median prison monthsnational, this offence: 41
81%within guideline rangenational 52%
97%cases with a prison termnational 94%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
8%
17%
30%
32%
7%
4%
<10
<10
median 51 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 (711 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: firearms offences nationally.

Interquartile range 33–78 months; mean 63. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Firearms was the primary offence type in 730 cases sentenced in the Southern District of Georgia between FY2018 and FY2025 (22% of the district's cases), with 65 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 51 months (4 yr 3 mo), longer than the national median for firearms offences (41 months) and close to the Eleventh Circuit median (48). Half of prison terms fell between 33 and 78 months; 97% of cases carried a prison term.

81% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 52%); 8% were below the range on a government motion and 10% below it for other reasons.

FY2025 had fewer cases than FY2018 (65 against 103). 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 81%Above range 2%Below range, government sponsored 8%Below range, other 10%Not determinable 0

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

MeasureS.D. Ga., firearmsS.D. Ga., all offences11th Cir., firearmsUS, firearms
Cases per fiscal year914129198,251
Share of district caseload22.1%100%——
Median prison months51464841
Mean prison months6367—53
Cases with a prison term97%85%94%94%
Within guideline range81%69%60%52%
Above range2%2%5%6%
Below range, government sponsored8%19%12%17%
Below range, other10%11%24%26%
Median final offence level1918—19

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

103
115
99
94
99
87
68
65
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Firearms cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
51
49
57
57
46
54
51
52
’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
FY2018103100%5189%———
FY2019115—4985%—10%—
FY202099—5786%———
FY202194—5776%11%14%0%
FY202299—4677%—12%—
FY202387—5477%—15%—
FY202468—5175%——0%
FY202565—5274%15%——

§ 6Criminal history

Category I13% · 18%
Category II7% · 11%
Category III20% · 20%
Category IV23% · 17%
Category V17% · 13%
Category VI21% · 21%

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: firearms 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 firearms offences in the Southern District of Georgia?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 51 months (4 yr 3 mo), with the middle half of terms between 33 and 78 months. 97% of cases carried a prison term. The national median for firearms offences is 41 months.

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

8% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 10% below it for other reasons; 81% 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, firearms offences had a median prison term of 41 months and a within-range share of 52% 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 §2K2.1, §none and §2X3.1.

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 Southern District of Georgia

§ 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 13; district is CIRCDIST 94. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.