Effective Use of Federal Sentencing Data

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency in the Judicial Branch of government. Among its principal purposes is to collect, analyze, research, and distribute a broad array of information on federal crime and sentencing issues, serving as an information resource for Congress, the Executive Branch, the courts, criminal justice practitioners, the academic community, and the public. This panel will focus on the Commission’s extensive data and its use for research. The Commission makes available to the public through its website ICPSR and BJS, datasets on federal sentencings within each fiscal year. Commission staff will provide a brief overview of the agency, data collection methodology, the guideline application process, the interaction of the sentencing guidelines and applicable statutory mandatory minimums, an overview of the drug trafficking and fraud guidelines, and essential tips for multivariate analysis using Commission data.

Sub Unit

• Area VII: Criminal Justice Policy and Practice / 49: Sentencing

Individual Presentations

• Effective Use of Federal Sentencing Data - Lou Reedt, U.S. Sentencing Commission

• Effective Use of Federal Sentencing Data - Courtney Semisch, U.S. Sentencing Commission

• Effective Use of Federal Sentencing Data - Emily Herbst, U.S. Sentencing Commission

Chair

• Lou Reedt, U.S. Sentencing Commission