[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66176-66177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18089]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION


Final Priorities for Amendment Cycle

AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission.

ACTION: Notice of final priorities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In June 2024, the Commission published a notice of proposed 
policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2025. After 
reviewing public comment received pursuant to the notice of proposed 
priorities, the Commission has identified its policy priorities for the 
upcoming amendment cycle and hereby gives notice of these policy 
priorities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Dukes, Senior Public Affairs 
Specialist, (202) 502-4597.

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 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 Congress not later than the first day of May each year 
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(p).
    In June 2024, the Commission asked members of the public and 
stakeholders in the criminal justice system to tell the Commission what 
policymaking, research, and operational work it should conduct in the 
amendment cycle ending

[[Page 66177]]

May 1, 2025. See 89 FR 48029 (June 4, 2024). The Commission received a 
tremendous amount of input from across the country, including more than 
1,200 pages of comments. The Commission is grateful to the many judges, 
members of Congress, executive branch agencies, probation officers, 
advisory groups, attorneys, professors, advocates, organizations, and 
incarcerated individuals who took the time to provide such thoughtful 
ideas that aim to make federal sentencing fairer and more just. While 
the Commission received a wide array of comments, there were a clear 
set of themes among them, including the following:
    (1) Simplifying the guidelines and clarifying their role in 
sentencing, including revising the ``categorical approach'' for 
purposes of the career offender guideline and possibly amending the 
Guidelines Manual to address the three-step process set forth in Sec.  
1B1.1 (Application Instructions) and the use of departures and policy 
statements relating to specific personal characteristics.
    (2) Reducing the costs of unnecessary incarceration.
    (3) Promoting public safety.
    (4) Improving community supervision.
    (5) Expanding the Commission's use of expertise, evidence, and best 
practices.
    (6) Promoting evidence-based approaches to offense and individual 
characteristics.
    While the Commission will continue to evaluate all the ideas it has 
received, the Commission is committed to prioritizing--during the 
upcoming amendment cycle and beyond--one or more of these themes, as 
well as implementing any legislation warranting Commission action and 
resolving circuit conflicts pursuant to the Commission's authority 
under 28 U.S.C. 991(b)(1)(B) and Braxton v. United States, 500 U.S. 344 
(1991). In prioritizing some themes, the Commission may submit related 
guideline amendments to Congress not later than May 1, 2025. In 
prioritizing other themes, the Commission may use issues for comment, 
workshops, roundtables, conferences, and other tools to solicit input 
about what, if any, action the Commission should take in the future.

(Authority: 28 U.S.C. 994(a), (o); USSC Rules of Practice and 
Procedure 2.2, 5.2.)

Carlton W. Reeves,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 2024-18089 Filed 8-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 2210-40-P