District Sentencing

W.D.N.Y. · Sex AbuseFY2018–FY2025

Districts › Western District of New York

Sex Abuse in the Western District of New York

W.D.N.Y. · Second Circuit · Sex Abuse 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.

23cases, FY2025170 over FY2018–FY2025
180median prison monthsnational, this offence: 180
28%within guideline rangenational 41%
—cases with a prison termnational 99%

§ 1Length of prison terms

<10
<10
21%
22%
15%
24%
10%
<10
median 180 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 (168 cases with a prison term; life and terms of 470 months or more counted as life). Grey: sexual abuse offences nationally.

Interquartile range 108–262 months; mean 195. <10 cases at the Commission's 470-month cap (life or longer).

§ 2Summary

Sex Abuse was the primary offence type in 170 cases sentenced in the Western District of New York between FY2018 and FY2025 (5% of the district's cases), with 23 in FY2025.

The median prison term was 180 months (15 years), close to the national median for sexual abuse offences (180 months) and close to the Second Circuit median (180). Half of prison terms fell between 108 and 262 months; — of cases carried a prison term.

28% of these sentences were within the guideline range (nationally for this offence type: 41%); 39% were below the range on a government motion and 31% below it for other reasons.

Caseload in FY2025 was about the same as in FY2018. The median prison term in FY2025 (180 months) was longer than in FY2018 (120 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 28%Above range <10Below range, government sponsored 39%Below range, other 31%Not determinable 0

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

MeasureW.D.N.Y., sex abuseW.D.N.Y., all offences2d Cir., sex abuseUS, sex abuse
Cases per fiscal year21411811,239
Share of district caseload5.2%100%——
Median prison months18042180180
Mean prison months19566—212
Cases with a prison term—90%—99%
Within guideline range28%41%25%41%
Above range—5%2%5%
Below range, government sponsored39%36%26%29%
Below range, other31%19%47%26%
Median final offence level3721—37

§ 5Trend by fiscal year

23
25
14
21
19
22
23
23
’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Sex Abuse cases sentenced per fiscal year (fiscal years 2018–2025)
120
180
184
180
204
180
168
180
’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
FY201823—120———0%
FY201925100%180————
FY202014100%184———0%
FY202121100%180—62%—0%
FY202219100%204————
FY202322100%180——46%0%
FY202423100%16844%———
FY202523100%180—48%—0%

§ 6Criminal history

Category I64% · 67%
Category II12% · 10%
Category III9% · 9%
Category IV<10
Category V<10
Category VI<10

Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: sexual abuse 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 sexual abuse offences in the Western District of New York?

The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 180 months (15 years), with the middle half of terms between 108 and 262 months. — of cases carried a prison term. The national median for sexual abuse offences is 180 months.

How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced below the guideline range here?

39% of sentences were below the range on a government motion and 31% below it for other reasons; 28% 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, sexual abuse offences had a median prison term of 180 months and a within-range share of 41% 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 §2G2.1, §none and §2G1.3.

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 Western District of New York

§ 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 27; district is CIRCDIST 11. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.