U.S. Sentencing Commission Seeks Public Comments on Federal Sentencing Policy
The United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) is currently soliciting public comments on federal sentencing guidelines and sentencing policy priorities.
For those unfamiliar with the Commission, the USSC is an independent agency within the judicial branch of the federal government. It is responsible for developing sentencing guidelines and policy statements used by federal courts throughout the country. The Commission also regularly reviews existing guidelines, considers proposed amendments, and makes recommendations to Congress.
This public comment period presents an opportunity for individuals directly impacted by the federal criminal justice system, their families, advocates, attorneys, researchers, and concerned citizens to share their perspectives on federal sentencing practices and policy.
If you have thoughts on sentencing guidelines, supervised release, rehabilitation, reentry, collateral consequences, public safety, proportional punishment, or any other aspect of federal sentencing policy, consider submitting your comments to the Commission. Please do not share comments on Florida laws or SORNA, because the USSC has nothing to do with that. Please do not share comments on law enforcement action, stings, or what should or should not constitute a criminal offense. This has ONLY to do with sentencing and not with anything that comes before.
Comments may be submitted through the USSC Public Comment Submission Portal: https://comment.ussc.gov
or via mail:
United States Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle, N.E., Suite 2-500
Washington, D.C. 20002-8002
Attention: Public Affairs – Priorities Comment
Too often, policies are shaped without hearing from the people most affected by them. This is an opportunity to help inform the conversation and ensure that real-world experiences are part of the Commission’s consideration as it evaluates future sentencing priorities.
If you choose to submit comments, please consider sharing a copy with FAC so we can better understand the concerns and experiences of our community.
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I signed the petition a long time ago and invited others to do so. But I did not know that our president (Gail Coletta, I believe?) was invited to speak at the UN. Is there a recording of her comments somewhere?
Thanks
We are a couple signatures away from 9000. If we get to 10,000, that’s a good breakpoint to do another outreach to the UN
Hello JJJJ,
Can I send your letter as well? It is well done and very to the point?
Please let me know
Dave
Guys – don’t send the same letter. Modify it in your own words. Spin it with AI then edit. But as with letters to lawmakers, if they get a template, its useless.
Agreed!
Don’t send the same letter. It’ll ruin the credibility of the original.
But you have the right idea – get involved!
Thanks
I am considering sending the following:
Dear Chair Reeves and Members of the United States Sentencing Commission:
I am writing as a citizen who is required to register because of a past sexual offense conviction. I am not writing to ask the Commission to address state registry laws, SORNA, law enforcement practices, sting operations, or the definition of any criminal offense. I understand that this public comment period concerns federal sentencing policy, sentencing guidelines, supervised release, proportional punishment, rehabilitation, reentry, and public safety.
I respectfully ask the Commission to make sentencing policy for sexual offense cases a priority in the upcoming amendment cycle, with particular attention to proportionality, individualized assessment, supervised release conditions, treatment, and the real-world consequences that follow a sentence.
A sentence should punish wrongdoing, protect the public, and provide a fair path toward rehabilitation. But in cases involving sexual offenses, sentencing policy often seems to assume that every person presents the same future risk, regardless of age, history, conduct, treatment progress, time offense-free in the community, or completion of sentence. That assumption can lead to terms of imprisonment, supervision, restrictions, and conditions that are more severe than necessary in some individual cases.
I ask the Commission to study whether the federal guidelines and related policy statements for sexual offense cases adequately distinguish between different levels of culpability and risk. Sentencing should be based on evidence and individualized facts, not fear, labels, or assumptions. The Commission should consider whether current guideline ranges and recommended supervised release terms sometimes produce punishment greater than necessary to satisfy the purposes of sentencing under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
I also ask the Commission to examine supervised release conditions in sexual offense cases. Conditions should be tailored to the individual and connected to legitimate sentencing goals. Broad or automatic restrictions can interfere with housing, employment, family relationships, education, internet access, and ordinary reintegration. When conditions are not closely tied to actual risk, they may make stability harder rather than improve public safety.
The Commission should also prioritize rehabilitation and reentry. People who have completed their sentences need realistic ways to rebuild lawful, stable lives. Stable housing, work, family support, treatment access, and community integration are not excuses for past conduct; they are practical tools for reducing future harm. Sentencing policy should encourage accountability and rehabilitation together.
I further ask the Commission to study the cumulative effect of imprisonment, supervised release, special conditions, and collateral consequences. Even when the Commission does not control civil consequences outside the sentence, federal sentencing policy should recognize that those consequences exist. A sentence imposed without considering the full practical burden on reentry may become greater than necessary in the real world.
I respectfully urge the Commission to consider the following priorities:
Conduct a data-driven review of federal sexual offense guideline ranges to determine whether they are proportionate, evidence-based, and consistent with actual recidivism data.
Review supervised release terms and special conditions in sexual offense cases to encourage individualized, narrowly tailored conditions rather than broad, automatic restrictions.
Encourage courts to consider age, time offense-free, treatment participation, criminal history, offense conduct, and demonstrated rehabilitation when imposing sentence and supervision.
Study how collateral consequences affect reentry, employment, housing, family stability, and long-term public safety.
Promote sentencing approaches that protect the public while also allowing people who have completed their punishment to live stable, lawful, productive lives.
I accept responsibility for the seriousness of sexual offense convictions and the harm such conduct can cause. At the same time, sentencing policy should leave room for evidence, growth, rehabilitation, and proportionality. A system that treats every person as permanently beyond redemption discourages the very stability and accountability that public safety requires.
Thank you for considering the perspective of someone directly affected by sentencing policy and its long-term consequences.
Respectfully submitted,
It’s great!
Ok…I just got a fix a couple of words real quick (but not change the meaning at all).
I will send it in.
Wonderfully stated, balanced, impactful and heart felt on our end. Praying for all of us to have things like this being heard, from those who will listen and consider some of our situations, as all of us seem to be thrown into the same laundry basket.
I am no longer on federal supervision, so I will make my public comment, specifically about section 2G2.2 of the Guidelines which are, have been, and remain empirically flawed. The Sentencing Commission acknowledged this in 2013 with its recommendations to the Congress. Did the Congress act to fix the laws? Nope! Will they now? Unlikely!
Get your comments on the public records. It costs nothing but time.
FAC
Does this have anything to do with F.A.C? I just found this in my feed
It is a change.org about the registry
https://www.change.org/p/public-sex-offender-registration-is-violation-of-universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Yes, we put up that petition. In response, our President was invited to speak to the UN.