An Analysis of the US Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Philosophy, History, and Practicality

Abstract

The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, the U.S. Sentencing Commission which grew out of it, and the Federal sentencing guidelines which constitute the most drastic measure of sentencing reform since parole was introduced in the 1920s, each signal a change in both the goals of sentencing and the perception of justice as it applies to criminal sanctions in the United States. The understanding of all this is integral to the continuing search for 'justice' in sentencing and for implementation of sentencing reforms. The goal of this project is to provide the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the Federal sentencing guidelines. This includes not only how they work in practice, but also the philosophy behind them and its significance, the history of both the guidelines themselves and sentencing reform, and foreseeable problems that may arise out of this new direction in sentencing policy.

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