[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28381-28382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12868]


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UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION


Proposed Priorities for Amendment Cycle

AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: As part of its statutory authority and responsibility to 
analyze sentencing issues, including operation of the federal 
sentencing guidelines, and in accordance with Rule 5.2 of its Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, the United States Sentencing Commission is 
seeking comment on possible policy priorities for the amendment cycle 
ending May 1, 2018.

DATES: Public comment should be received by the Commission on or before 
July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Commission by electronic mail 
or regular mail. The email address is [email protected]. The regular 
mail address is United States Sentencing Commission, One Columbus 
Circle NE., Suite 2-500, South Lobby, Washington, DC 20002-8002, 
Attention: Public Affairs--Priorities Comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Leonard, Director, Office of 
Legislative and Public Affairs, (202) 502-4500, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Sentencing Commission is 
an independent agency in the judicial branch of the United States 
Government. The Commission promulgates sentencing guidelines and policy 
statements for federal sentencing courts pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(a). 
The Commission also periodically reviews and revises previously 
promulgated guidelines pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(o) and submits 
guideline amendments to the Congress not later than the first day of 
May each year pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(p).
    The Commission provides this notice to identify tentative 
priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2018. The Commission 
recognizes, however, that other factors, such as the enactment of 
legislation requiring Commission action, may affect the Commission's 
ability to complete work on any or all of its identified priorities by 
the statutory deadline of May 1, 2018. Accordingly, it may be necessary 
to continue work on any or all of these issues beyond the amendment 
cycle ending on May 1, 2018.
    As so prefaced, the Commission has identified the following 
tentative priorities:
    (1) Continuation of its multi-year examination of the overall 
structure of the guidelines post-Booker, possibly including 
recommendations to Congress on any statutory changes and development of 
any guideline amendments that may be appropriate. As part of this 
examination, the Commission intends to study possible approaches to (A) 
simplify the operation of the guidelines, promote proportionality, and 
reduce sentencing disparities; and (B) appropriately account for the 
defendant's role, culpability, and relevant conduct.
    (2) Continuation of its multi-year study of offenses involving 
MDMA/Ecstasy, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), synthetic cannabinoids (such 
as JWH-018 and AM-2201), and synthetic cathinones (such as Methylone, 
MDPV, and Mephedrone), and consideration of any amendments to the 
Guidelines Manual that may be appropriate. As part of this examination, 
the Commission more generally intends to study possible approaches to 
simplify the determination of the most closely related substance under 
Application Note 6 of the Commentary to Section 2D1.1.
    (3) Continuation of its work with Congress and other interested 
parties to implement the recommendations set forth in the Commission's 
2016 report to Congress, titled Career Offender Sentencing 
Enhancements, including its recommendations to revise the career 
offender directive at 28 U.S.C. 994(h) to focus on offenders who have 
committed at least one ``crime of violence'' and to adopt a uniform 
definition of ``crime of violence'' applicable to the guidelines and 
other recidivist statutory provisions.
    (4) Continuation of its work with Congress and other interested 
parties on statutory mandatory minimum penalties to implement the 
recommendations set forth in the Commission's 2011 report to Congress, 
titled Mandatory Minimum Penalties in the Federal Criminal Justice 
System, including its recommendations regarding the severity and scope 
of mandatory minimum penalties, consideration of expanding the ``safety 
valve'' at 18 U.S.C. 3553(f), and elimination of the mandatory 
``stacking'' of penalties under 18 U.S.C. 924(c). The Commission also 
intends to release a series of publications updating the data in the 
2011 report.
    (5) Continuation of its comprehensive, multi-year study of 
recidivism, including (A) examination of circumstances that correlate 
with increased or reduced recidivism; (B) possible development of 
recommendations for using information obtained from such study to 
reduce costs of incarceration and overcapacity of prisons, and promote 
effectiveness of reentry programs; and (C) consideration of any 
amendments to the Guidelines Manual that may be appropriate, including 
possibly amending Chapter Four and Chapter Five to provide lower 
guideline ranges for ``first offenders'' generally and to increase the 
availability of alternatives to incarceration for such offenders at the 
lower levels of the Sentencing Table.
    (6) Implementation of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 
114-74, and any other crime legislation enacted during the 114th or 
115th Congress warranting a Commission response.
    (7) Continuation of its study of the findings and recommendations 
contained in the May 2016 Report issued by the Commission's Tribal 
Issues Advisory Group and consideration of any amendments to the 
Guidelines Manual that may be appropriate, including (A) revising how 
tribal court convictions are addressed in Chapter Four, and (B) 
providing a definition of ``court protection order'' that would apply 
throughout the guidelines.
    (8) Examination of Chapter Four, Part A (Criminal History) to study 
(A) how the guidelines account for prior federal and state convictions 
resulting from the same criminal conduct under Section 4A1.2(a)(2); (B) 
the treatment of convictions for offenses committed prior to age 
eighteen; (C) the treatment of revocation sentences under Section 
4A1.2(k); and (D) a possible amendment of Section 4A1.3 to account for 
instances in which the time actually served was substantially less than 
the length of the sentence imposed for a conviction counted in the 
criminal history score.
    (9) Continuation of its study of alternatives to incarceration, 
including (A) issuing a publication regarding the development of 
alternative to incarceration programs in federal district courts, and 
(B) possibly amending the Sentencing Table in Chapter 5, Part A to 
consolidate Zones B and C, and other relevant provisions in the 
Guidelines Manual.

[[Page 28382]]

    (10) Resolution of circuit conflicts, pursuant to the Commission's 
continuing authority and responsibility, under 28 U.S.C. 991(b)(1)(B) 
and Braxton v. United States, 500 U.S. 344 (1991), to resolve 
conflicting interpretations of the guidelines by the federal courts.
    (11) Consideration of any miscellaneous guideline application 
issues coming to the Commission's attention from case law and other 
sources, including consideration of whether a defendant's denial of 
relevant conduct should be considered in determining whether a 
defendant has accepted responsibility for purposes of Section 3E1.1.
    The Commission hereby gives notice that it is seeking comment on 
these tentative priorities and on any other issues that interested 
persons believe the Commission should address during the amendment 
cycle ending May 1, 2018. To the extent practicable, public comment 
should include the following: (1) A statement of the issue, including, 
where appropriate, the scope and manner of study, particular problem 
areas and possible solutions, and any other matters relevant to a 
proposed priority; (2) citations to applicable sentencing guidelines, 
statutes, case law, and constitutional provisions; and (3) a direct and 
concise statement of why the Commission should make the issue a 
priority.

    Authority: 28 U.S.C. 994(a), (o); USSC Rules of Practice and 
Procedure 5.2.

William H. Pryor, Jr.,
Acting Chair.
[FR Doc. 2017-12868 Filed 6-20-17; 8:45 am]
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