
Using fiscal year 2016 data, this publication provides sentencing data on offenses carrying drug mandatory minimums, the impact on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) population, and differences observed when analyzing each of five main drug types. Where appropriate, the publication highlights changes and trends since the Commission’s 2011 Mandatory Minimum Report. Because drug offenses are the most common offenses carrying mandatory minimum penalties, many of the trends in this publication mirror the trends seen in the 2017 Overview Publication.
1 Section One:
Introduction 3
Section Two:
Key Findings 9
Section Three: Drug Mandatory Minimums in the Federal System 10
Statutory Mandatory Minimum Provisions Applicable to Federal Drug Offenses 10
Penalty Provisions 11
Statutory Relief Provisions 12
Guideline Provisions 13
Section Four:
Data Analysis 14
The Commission’s Updated Study of Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalties 14
Recent Trends in Mandatory Minimum Penalties 18
Prevalence of Drug Offenses Carrying Mandatory Minimum Penalties 18
How Often Are Drug Offenders Charged with an Offense Carrying a Mandatory Minimum Penalty? 22
How Severe Were Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Drug Offenders? 24
Where Were Offenders Convicted of Drug Offenses Carrying Mandatory Minimums? 25
Offender Demographics 25 Race, Gender, and Citizenship 27 Age 27
Criminal History and Offense Characteristics 27 Criminal History 29
Offense Characteristics 30 Relief from Mandatory Minimum Penalties 32
Demographics 35 Substantial Assistance 36
Sentencing of Offenders Convicted of an Offense Carrying a Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalty 36
Average Sentence Length 40
Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range 43
Offender Function 45 Distribution of Offender Function 46
Prevalence of Offenses Carrying Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalties by Offender Function 48
Relief from Mandatory Minimum Penalties by Offender Function 50
Average Sentence Length by Offender Function 51
Impact of Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalties on the Federal Prison Population 52
Federal Drug Offender Population Overall 53
Drug Mandatory Minimum Offenders in the Federal Prison Population 57
Drug Mandatory Minimum Offenders in the Federal Prison Population – By Race 57
Drug Mandatory Minimum Offenders in the Federal Prison Population – By Gender 59
Drug Mandatory Minimum Offenders in the Federal Prison Population – By Citizenship 62
Recidivism 65 Section Five: Conclusion 67 Endnotes 79 Appendices 79
Appendix A: Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalties in Each Circuit and District 83
Appendix B: Average Age of Drug Offenders at Sentencing 85
Appendix C: Length of Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalty by Offender Function.
87 Appendix D: Powder Cocaine Offenders 103
Appendix E: Crack Cocaine Offenders 119
Appendix F: Marijuana Offenders 135
Appendix G: Methamphetamine Offenders 151
Appendix H: Heroin Offenders
United States Sentencing Commission, Law enforcement officials, attorney and lawyers engaged in representing individuals facing drug penalties, drug offenders and possible drug offenders, Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalties, Average Age of Drug Offenders at Sentencing, Length of Drug Mandatory Minimum Penalty, Powder Cocaine Offenders, Crack Cocaine Offenders, Marijuana Offenders, Methamphetamine Offenders, Heroin Offenders.
Product Details
- Penalties
- Drug Offenses