Offence typesFY2018–FY2025
Sex Abuse
Primary offence type · Commission code 27 · 1.9% of federal cases
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, all districts
Interquartile range 120–300 months; mean 212. 875 cases at the 470-month cap (life or longer).
§ 2Summary
Sex Abuse was the primary offence type in 9,908 federal cases sentenced across 8 fiscal years (FY2018–FY2025), 1.9% of all cases reported to the Commission, with 1,409 in FY2025.
The national median prison term for sexual abuse offences was 180 months (15 years), against 24 months for all cases; 99% of cases carried a prison term and the middle half of terms fell between 120 and 300 months.
41% of sentences were within the guideline range, 29% below it on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 5% above it.
The districts with the most sexual abuse offences were the Northern District of Texas (354), the District of South Dakota (322) and the Middle District of Florida (313).
FY2025 had more cases than FY2018 (1,409 against 1,067). The median prison term in FY2025 (210 months) was longer than in FY2018 (180 months).
§ 3Position relative to the guideline range
Within guideline range 41%Above range 5%Below range, government sponsored 29%Below range, other 26%Not determinable <10
| Measure | Sex Abuse | All offence types |
|---|---|---|
| Median prison months | 180 | 24 |
| Mean prison months | 212 | 51 |
| Cases with a prison term | 99% | 92% |
| Within guideline range | 41% | 47% |
| Above range | 5% | 3% |
| Below range, government sponsored | 29% | 29% |
| Below range, other | 26% | 21% |
| Median final offence level | 37 | 17 |
| Criminal history category I | 67% | 46% |
§ 4Districts compared
Every district with at least one case, most cases first. Districts with at least 30 cases in 2021–2025 link to a district × offence page; others link to the district's overview. Rows under 10 cases show the count only.
| District | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern District of Texas N.D. Tex. | 354 | — | 240 | 70% | 14% | 11% |
| District of South Dakota D.S.D. | 322 | — | 120 | 63% | 12% | 21% |
| Middle District of Florida M.D. Fla. | 313 | — | 240 | 57% | 6% | 32% |
| District of Arizona D. Ariz. | 265 | — | 108 | 38% | 36% | 16% |
| Eastern District of Michigan E.D. Mich. | 241 | 100% | 204 | 28% | 23% | 49% |
| Southern District of Texas S.D. Tex. | 239 | 100% | 216 | 49% | 19% | 30% |
| Southern District of Florida S.D. Fla. | 230 | 100% | 202 | 47% | 24% | 27% |
| Western District of Texas W.D. Tex. | 213 | — | 207 | 64% | 15% | 17% |
| District of New Mexico D.N.M. | 205 | — | 144 | 31% | 51% | 13% |
| Eastern District of Virginia E.D. Va. | 203 | — | 188 | 22% | 24% | 52% |
| Western District of Missouri W.D. Mo. | 203 | — | 216 | 32% | 29% | 36% |
| Northern District of Oklahoma N.D. Okla. | 188 | — | 180 | 50% | 27% | 14% |
| District of Utah D. Utah | 172 | — | 96 | 32% | 51% | — |
| Western District of New York W.D.N.Y. | 170 | — | 180 | 28% | 39% | 31% |
| District of Maryland D. Md. | 168 | — | 216 | 16% | 61% | 20% |
| Eastern District of Pennsylvania E.D. Pa. | 154 | 100% | 240 | 28% | 39% | 32% |
| Southern District of Indiana S.D. Ind. | 154 | — | 300 | 25% | 57% | 16% |
| Southern District of New York S.D.N.Y. | 153 | — | 135 | 23% | 16% | 60% |
| Southern District of Ohio S.D. Ohio | 153 | 100% | 210 | 22% | 56% | 20% |
| District of North Dakota D.N.D. | 152 | 100% | 120 | 55% | 26% | 11% |
| Northern District of New York N.D.N.Y. | 148 | — | 207 | 24% | 22% | 53% |
| Eastern District of Missouri E.D. Mo. | 146 | 100% | 210 | 29% | 56% | 13% |
| Middle District of Pennsylvania M.D. Pa. | 145 | 100% | 210 | 35% | 26% | 40% |
| District of Nebraska D. Neb. | 143 | 100% | 144 | 51% | 28% | 11% |
| Central District of Illinois C.D. Ill. | 142 | 100% | 180 | 30% | 35% | 32% |
| Southern District of Iowa S.D. Iowa | 140 | 100% | 240 | 51% | 21% | 21% |
| District of Puerto Rico D.P.R. | 139 | 100% | 151 | 53% | 30% | 15% |
| Eastern District of Oklahoma E.D. Okla. | 139 | — | 180 | 53% | 21% | 15% |
| Eastern District of Kentucky E.D. Ky. | 138 | 100% | 296 | 47% | 11% | 39% |
| Southern District of Illinois S.D. Ill. | 126 | 100% | 120 | 50% | 18% | 23% |
| District of Montana D. Mont. | 120 | — | 120 | 38% | 20% | 37% |
| District of Minnesota D. Minn. | 116 | — | 240 | 28% | 36% | 34% |
| Western District of Washington W.D. Wash. | 116 | — | 120 | 22% | 54% | 21% |
| Western District of North Carolina W.D.N.C. | 115 | 100% | 235 | 44% | 17% | 31% |
| District of South Carolina D.S.C. | 115 | — | 199 | 33% | 36% | 28% |
| Western District of Michigan W.D. Mich. | 115 | 100% | 292 | 50% | 11% | 36% |
| Northern District of Florida N.D. Fla. | 112 | 100% | 207 | 42% | 14% | 40% |
| District of Idaho D. Idaho | 106 | 100% | 138 | 38% | 17% | 25% |
| Eastern District of New York E.D.N.Y. | 101 | — | 196 | 28% | 16% | 55% |
| Northern District of Ohio N.D. Ohio | 101 | 100% | 188 | 31% | 26% | 43% |
| Eastern District of Tennessee E.D. Tenn. | 101 | 100% | 204 | 60% | 21% | — |
| Central District of California C.D. Cal. | 101 | — | 180 | 37% | 33% | 27% |
| District of Oregon D. Or. | 100 | — | 180 | 30% | 60% | — |
| Middle District of Georgia M.D. Ga. | 99 | 100% | 84 | 67% | — | 20% |
| Eastern District of California E.D. Cal. | 97 | 100% | 206 | 55% | 20% | 21% |
| Eastern District of Washington E.D. Wash. | 95 | 100% | 180 | 17% | 65% | 15% |
| Western District of Kentucky W.D. Ky. | 94 | 100% | 180 | 32% | 47% | 17% |
| Northern District of Georgia N.D. Ga. | 90 | 100% | 233 | 24% | 63% | — |
| Southern District of West Virginia S.D.W. Va. | 84 | 100% | 121 | 41% | 12% | 44% |
| Western District of Pennsylvania W.D. Pa. | 81 | 100% | 192 | 37% | 42% | 17% |
| Eastern District of North Carolina E.D.N.C. | 81 | 100% | 216 | 52% | 22% | 24% |
| Eastern District of Wisconsin E.D. Wis. | 81 | 100% | 180 | 31% | 36% | 22% |
| Northern District of Illinois N.D. Ill. | 79 | 100% | 228 | 22% | 25% | 49% |
| Western District of Louisiana W.D. La. | 78 | 100% | 222 | 76% | — | — |
| Southern District of California S.D. Cal. | 78 | 100% | 120 | 27% | 50% | 15% |
| District of Massachusetts D. Mass. | 77 | 100% | 192 | 16% | 49% | 33% |
| Northern District of Indiana N.D. Ind. | 76 | 100% | 210 | 45% | 40% | 13% |
| District of Wyoming D. Wyo. | 75 | 100% | 144 | 29% | 53% | 15% |
| Eastern District of Texas E.D. Tex. | 74 | 100% | 240 | 60% | 30% | — |
| District of Kansas D. Kan. | 74 | — | 300 | 45% | 35% | 16% |
| District of Columbia D.D.C. | 71 | 100% | 168 | 32% | 45% | 20% |
| Western District of Oklahoma W.D. Okla. | 71 | — | 216 | 45% | — | 34% |
| Eastern District of Arkansas E.D. Ark. | 69 | — | 184 | 59% | — | 30% |
| Northern District of California N.D. Cal. | 66 | — | 121 | 18% | 44% | 26% |
| Southern District of Georgia S.D. Ga. | 66 | — | 180 | 70% | — | — |
| Western District of Wisconsin W.D. Wis. | 61 | 100% | 180 | — | 41% | 46% |
| Northern District of Alabama N.D. Ala. | 59 | 100% | 240 | 59% | 24% | — |
| District of Connecticut D. Conn. | 57 | 100% | 180 | 25% | 33% | 42% |
| Northern District of Iowa N.D. Iowa | 57 | 100% | 292 | 35% | 32% | 23% |
| Southern District of Mississippi S.D. Miss. | 56 | — | 195 | 71% | — | 18% |
| Western District of Arkansas W.D. Ark. | 56 | 100% | 249 | 54% | — | 34% |
| Middle District of Tennessee M.D. Tenn. | 52 | 100% | 251 | 29% | 31% | 35% |
| District of New Jersey D.N.J. | 51 | — | 187 | 41% | 41% | — |
| District of Alaska D. Alaska | 48 | 100% | 186 | 23% | 38% | 31% |
| District of Nevada D. Nev. | 48 | — | 186 | 34% | 40% | — |
| District of Colorado D. Colo. | 45 | — | 184 | 42% | — | 42% |
| Middle District of North Carolina M.D.N.C. | 42 | 100% | 269 | 38% | — | 45% |
| District of New Hampshire D.N.H. | 41 | 100% | 240 | — | 49% | 24% |
| Western District of Tennessee W.D. Tenn. | 41 | 100% | 300 | 46% | 34% | — |
| Northern District of West Virginia N.D.W. Va. | 38 | — | 168 | 55% | — | — |
| Northern District of Mississippi N.D. Miss. | 36 | — | 180 | 64% | — | — |
| District of Rhode Island D.R.I. | 35 | 100% | 120 | 31% | — | 49% |
| District of Maine D. Me. | 34 | 100% | 240 | — | 38% | 29% |
| Middle District of Alabama M.D. Ala. | 31 | 100% | 240 | — | 42% | — |
| Western District of Virginia W.D. Va. | 29 | 100% | 216 | — | 59% | — |
| Eastern District of Louisiana E.D. La. | 25 | 100% | 204 | — | — | — |
| District of Hawaii D. Haw. | 25 | 100% | 126 | 48% | — | — |
| District of Delaware D. Del. | 24 | 100% | 186 | 42% | — | — |
| Southern District of Alabama S.D. Ala. | 24 | 100% | 240 | 54% | — | — |
| District of Vermont D. Vt. | 21 | 100% | 114 | — | — | — |
| Middle District of Louisiana M.D. La. | 21 | 100% | 170 | 57% | — | — |
| District of the Virgin Islands D.V.I. | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | ||||
| District of Guam D. Guam | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | ||||
| District of the Northern Mariana Islands D.N. Mar. I. | <10 | fewer than 10 cases | ||||
§ 5Circuits compared
| Circuit | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia Circuit | 71 | 100% | 168 | 32% | 45% | 20% |
| First Circuit | 326 | 100% | 180 | 35% | 36% | 26% |
| Second Circuit | 650 | — | 180 | 25% | 26% | 47% |
| Third Circuit | 464 | — | 210 | 34% | 35% | 29% |
| Fourth Circuit | 875 | — | 204 | 32% | 31% | 34% |
| Fifth Circuit | 1,096 | 99% | 220 | 63% | 16% | 17% |
| Sixth Circuit | 1,036 | 100% | 235 | 37% | 28% | 33% |
| Seventh Circuit | 719 | — | 192 | 31% | 37% | 27% |
| Eighth Circuit | 1,404 | — | 180 | 47% | 25% | 22% |
| Ninth Circuit | 1,274 | 99% | 144 | 34% | 38% | 20% |
| Tenth Circuit | 969 | 98% | 164 | 40% | 36% | 15% |
| Eleventh Circuit | 1,024 | — | 210 | 51% | 19% | 26% |
§ 6Trend by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Cases | Prison | Median months | Within range | Below, gov. | Below, other | Above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 1,067 | 99% | 180 | 40% | 30% | 27% | 3% |
| FY2019 | 1,165 | — | 180 | 39% | 28% | 28% | 5% |
| FY2020 | 881 | — | 180 | 42% | 28% | 25% | 4% |
| FY2021 | 1,062 | — | 180 | 40% | 31% | 24% | 6% |
| FY2022 | 1,499 | — | 180 | 41% | 30% | 24% | 5% |
| FY2023 | 1,395 | — | 180 | 39% | 30% | 26% | 6% |
| FY2024 | 1,430 | 99% | 210 | 42% | 27% | 25% | 5% |
| FY2025 | 1,409 | 99% | 210 | 43% | 27% | 25% | 5% |
§ 7Criminal history
Share of cases at each final criminal history category; grey figure: all federal cases.
§ 8Guideline sections involved
| Primary guideline | Subject | Cases | Share of this offence type |
|---|---|---|---|
| §2G2.1 | Sexually exploiting a minor by production of sexual material | 4,919 | 49.6% |
| §2G1.3 | Promoting a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual conduct with a minor | 3,087 | 31.2% |
| §2A3.1 | Criminal sexual abuse | 989 | 10.0% |
| §2A3.4 | Abusive sexual contact | 306 | 3.1% |
| §2A3.2 | Criminal sexual abuse of a minor under 16 | 304 | 3.1% |
| §2G1.1 | Promoting a commercial sex act or prohibited sexual conduct | 171 | 1.7% |
| §2G2.6 | 49 | 0.5% | |
| §2A3.3 | 43 | 0.4% | |
| §2X3.1 | Accessory after the fact | 25 | 0.3% |
| §2X1.1 | Attempt, solicitation or conspiracy (not covered by a specific guideline) | <10 | — |
§ 9Questions and answers
What is the average federal sentence for sexual abuse offences?
The median prison term over FY2018–FY2025 was 180 months (15 years) and the mean was 212 months (life sentences counted as 470 months, the Commission's convention). Medians are used on this site because a few very long terms pull the mean upward.
How much does the sentence for sexual abuse offences vary by district?
Among districts with at least 10 cases, medians ranged from 84 months (M.D. Ga.) to 300 months (S.D. Ind.). The mix of guidelines, statutory minimums and criminal history within the offence type explains much of the spread.
How often are sexual abuse offences sentenced outside the guideline range?
59% of sentences were outside the range: 29% below it on a government motion, 26% below it for other reasons and 5% above it.
Which guidelines apply to sexual abuse offences?
The most common primary guidelines are §2G2.1, §2G1.3, §2A3.1 and §2A3.4. The Commission assigns the offence type mainly from the primary guideline the court applied.
Where do these figures come from?
The US Sentencing Commission's individual offender datafiles, FY2018–FY2025, using the Commission's OFFGUIDE offence type, SENTRNGE range status and SENTTCAP capped prison months. Counts under 10 are hidden.
§ 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. Counts below 10 are hidden or pooled. Errors in this site's processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections. Methodology.