Guidelines ManualFY2018–FY2025
Guidelines
57 Chapter Two guidelines with at least 200 cases as the primary guideline
The primary guideline is the Chapter Two section that produced the offence level the court used. Sections are cited in the Manual's §-notation; each page shows the sentence distribution, the nine departure and variance categories and the districts with the most cases.
§ 1All guidelines, most cases first
| Section | Subject | Cases | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| §2D1.1 | Unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, trafficking or possession with intent (drugs) | 143,046 | 62 | 30% | 42% | 26% |
| §2L1.2 | Unlawfully entering or remaining in the United States | 127,138 | 6 | 65% | 21% | 11% |
| §2K2.1 | Unlawful receipt, possession or transportation of firearms or ammunition | 62,526 | 40 | 51% | 18% | 27% |
| §2B1.1 | Larceny, embezzlement, theft, fraud and deceit | 40,177 | 21 | 41% | 26% | 30% |
| §2L1.1 | Smuggling, transporting or harboring an unlawful alien | 30,362 | 12 | 44% | 42% | 12% |
| §2B3.1 | Robbery | 11,535 | 96 | 40% | 27% | 28% |
| §2G2.2 | Trafficking in material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor (child pornography) | 10,652 | 96 | 33% | 24% | 40% |
| §2S1.1 | Laundering of monetary instruments | 8,112 | 48 | 22% | 47% | 30% |
| §2L2.2 | Fraudulently acquiring documents relating to naturalization or citizenship | 5,142 | 4 | 76% | 6% | 14% |
| §2G2.1 | Sexually exploiting a minor by production of sexual material | 4,919 | 260 | 36% | 31% | 31% |
| §2A2.2 | Aggravated assault | 3,745 | 41 | 45% | 22% | 23% |
| §2G1.3 | Promoting a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual conduct with a minor | 3,087 | 120 | 47% | 25% | 21% |
| §2A3.5 | Failure to register as a sex offender | 2,458 | 18 | 54% | 11% | 31% |
| §2P1.1 | Escape, instigating or assisting escape | 2,222 | 12 | 66% | 10% | 20% |
| §2A1.1 | First degree murder | 2,123 | 300 | 38% | 47% | 14% |
| §2T1.1 | Tax evasion; fraudulent or false returns | 2,044 | 13 | 24% | 28% | 47% |
| §2D1.2 | Drug offenses occurring near protected locations or involving underage or pregnant individuals | 1,938 | 72 | 50% | 31% | 15% |
| §2A2.4 | Obstructing or impeding officers | 1,760 | 12 | 57% | 16% | 23% |
| §2X5.2 | Class A misdemeanors (not covered by another guideline) | 1,691 | 3 | 82% | — | 1% |
| §2C1.1 | Offering, giving, soliciting or receiving a bribe; extortion under color of official right | 1,593 | 18 | 20% | 42% | 38% |
| §2X4.1 | Misprision of felony | 1,526 | 12 | 47% | 26% | 23% |
| §2S1.3 | Structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements | 1,351 | 10 | 42% | 24% | 27% |
| §2A2.1 | 1,324 | 120 | 41% | 29% | 25% | |
| §2A6.1 | Threatening or harassing communications | 1,307 | 18 | 48% | 17% | 25% |
| §2P1.2 | Providing or possessing contraband in prison | 1,300 | 10 | 62% | 20% | 14% |
| §2M5.2 | Exportation of arms, munitions or military equipment without a licence | 1,183 | 27 | 32% | 27% | 40% |
| §2T1.4 | Aiding, assisting or advising tax fraud | 1,109 | 21 | 23% | 27% | 48% |
| §2J1.2 | Obstruction of justice | 995 | 18 | 32% | 24% | 37% |
| §2A3.1 | Criminal sexual abuse | 989 | 173 | 41% | 32% | 21% |
| §2B5.1 | Offenses involving counterfeit bearer obligations of the United States | 968 | 18 | 57% | 15% | 25% |
| §2D2.1 | Unlawful possession (drugs) | 950 | 1 | 86% | 4% | 6% |
| §2A4.1 | Kidnapping, abduction, unlawful restraint | 891 | 151 | 31% | 40% | 25% |
| §2B4.1 | Bribery in procurement of bank loan and other commercial bribery | 793 | 18 | 17% | 51% | 32% |
| §2Q2.1 | Offenses involving fish, wildlife and plants | 651 | 6 | 51% | 22% | 27% |
| §2X3.1 | Accessory after the fact | 646 | 33 | 31% | 34% | 29% |
| §2K1.4 | Arson; property damage by use of explosives | 611 | 60 | 46% | 25% | 18% |
| §2L2.1 | Trafficking in a document relating to naturalization or citizenship | 602 | 10 | 42% | 34% | 22% |
| §2A6.2 | Stalking or domestic violence | 577 | 36 | 41% | 24% | 21% |
| §2A2.3 | 576 | 7 | 72% | 8% | 12% | |
| §2A1.2 | Second degree murder | 553 | 235 | 46% | 25% | 11% |
| §2G1.1 | Promoting a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual conduct | 470 | 37 | 38% | 31% | 20% |
| §2H1.1 | Offenses involving individual rights | 444 | 28 | 24% | 37% | 37% |
| §2D2.2 | 430 | 6 | 83% | 6% | 9% | |
| §2T1.6 | 405 | 14 | 17% | 23% | 59% | |
| §2E3.1 | Gambling offenses | 399 | 12 | 39% | 28% | 24% |
| §2E1.1 | Unlawful conduct relating to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations | 387 | 27 | 41% | 26% | 26% |
| §2B2.1 | Burglary of a residence or structure other than a residence | 375 | 23 | 51% | 16% | 22% |
| §2B5.3 | Criminal infringement of copyright or trademark | 333 | 12 | 18% | 39% | 43% |
| §2A1.4 | Involuntary manslaughter | 328 | 37 | 45% | 13% | 18% |
| §2A3.4 | Abusive sexual contact | 306 | 24 | 50% | 20% | 14% |
| §2A3.2 | Criminal sexual abuse of a minor under 16 | 304 | 36 | 60% | 15% | 13% |
| §2Q1.2 | Mishandling of hazardous or toxic substances or pesticides | 274 | 3 | 39% | 33% | 28% |
| §2A1.3 | Voluntary manslaughter | 268 | 97 | 46% | 10% | 9% |
| §2A1.5 | 252 | 120 | 35% | 37% | 27% | |
| §2B3.2 | Extortion by force or threat of injury | 240 | 41 | 35% | 25% | 35% |
| §2G3.1 | Importing, mailing or transporting obscene matter | 233 | 30 | 37% | 10% | 19% |
| §2J1.6 | Failure to appear by defendant | 229 | 12 | 61% | 11% | 22% |