S.D. Iowa · Prison OffensesFY2018–FY2025

Prison Offenses in the Southern District of Iowa

Q: What is the typical sentence for prison offences in the Southern District of Iowa?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 13 months (1 yr 1 mo), with the middle half of terms between 6 and 24 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for prison offences is 10 months.

Q: How often are prison offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

— of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 75% were within the range. The Commission's categories are explained in the guide to how the guidelines work.

Q: How does this compare with the rest of the country?

Nationally, prison offences had a median prison term of 10 months and a within-range share of 63% over the same period. The district's figures are above on median term and higher than the national within-range share.

Q: Which guidelines are involved?

The most common primary guidelines for these cases are §2P1.1, §none and §2X3.1.

Q: 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.

S.D. Iowa · Eighth Circuit · Prison Offenses 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.

<10cases, FY202551 over FY2018–FY2025

13median prison monthsnational, this offence: 10

75%within guideline rangenational 63%

—cases with a prison termnational 96%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10

37%

27%

<10

median 13 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 (49 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: prison offences nationally.

Interquartile range 6–24 months; mean 15. 0 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Prison Offenses was the primary offence type in 51 cases sentenced in the Southern District of Iowa between FY2018 and FY2025 (1% of the district's cases), with <10 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 13 months (1 yr 1 mo), longer than the national median for prison offences (10 months) and longer than the Eighth Circuit median (6). Half of prison terms fell between 6 and 24 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

75% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 63%); — were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons.

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 75%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored <10Below range, other <10Not determinable 0

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

Measure	S.D. Iowa, prison offenses	S.D. Iowa, all offences	8th Cir., prison offenses	US, prison offenses
Cases per fiscal year	<10	431	111	499
Share of district caseload	1.5%	100%	—	—
Median prison months	13	84	6	10
Mean prison months	15	109	—	12
Cases with a prison term	—	96%	98%	96%
Within guideline range	75%	37%	74%	63%
Above range	—	3%	4%	3%
Below range, government sponsored	—	25%	5%	15%
Below range, other	—	35%	18%	19%
Median final offence level	7	27	—	7

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

<10

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Prison Offenses cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)

<10

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Median prison months by fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)

Fiscal year	Cases	Prison	Median months	Within range	Below, gov.	Below, other	Above
FY2018	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2019	0	fewer than 10 cases
FY2020	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2021	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2022	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2023	17	—	10	71%	—	—	—
FY2024	<10	fewer than 10 cases
FY2025	<10	fewer than 10 cases

§ 6Criminal history

Category I<10

Category II<10

Category III<10

Category IV<10

Category V31% · 19%

Category VI37% · 30%

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: prison offences nationally.

§ 7Guidelines applied

§2P1.1 Escape, instigating or assisting escape · 49 cases in the district (all offence types)
§none · 12 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2X3.1 Accessory after the fact · <10 cases in the district (all offence types)
§2P1.2 Providing or possessing contraband in prison · <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 prison offences in the Southern District of Iowa?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 13 months (1 yr 1 mo), with the middle half of terms between 6 and 24 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for prison offences is 10 months.

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

— of sentences were below the range on a government motion and — below it for other reasons; 75% 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, prison offences had a median prison term of 10 months and a within-range share of 63% 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 §2P1.1, §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 Iowa

§ 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 25; district is CIRCDIST 56. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.