Criminal Defense Lawyers

Alaska Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Understanding the Alaska Federal Sentencing Guidelines

If you or a loved one is facing federal criminal charges in Alaska, it’s crucial to understand how the Alaska Federal Sentencing Guidelines work. These guidelines provide a framework that judges use to determine an appropriate sentence based on the specifics of the crime and the defendant’s criminal history. Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense.

The Basics of Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Alright, so here’s the deal with federal sentencing guidelines. Back in the 1980s, Congress decided there needed to be more consistency in sentencing across the country. The goal was to avoid a situation where you’d have one judge in Alaska giving a really light sentence for a crime, while a judge in Florida would throw the book at someone for the same offense.To fix this, they set up the United States Sentencing Commission to develop a set of guidelines for judges to follow. These guidelines consider two main factors:

1. The seriousness of the crime
2. The defendant’s prior criminal record

Based on these factors, the guidelines provide a range of months that the judge can sentence the defendant to serve in prison.

The Sentencing Table and Offense Levels

At the heart of the federal sentencing guidelines is something called the Sentencing Table. It looks kind of like a big grid, with the seriousness of the offense on one axis and the extensiveness of the defendant’s criminal history on the other.The seriousness of the crime is ranked on a scale from 1 to 43, with 1 being the least serious and 43 being the most serious. This number is called the “offense level.” There are a bunch of rules for determining the offense level, but the main things that matter are:

• The actual crime the person is convicted of (e.g. drug trafficking, fraud, etc.)
• Specific offense characteristics (e.g. the amount of drugs, the amount of money stolen, use of a weapon, etc.)
• Any adjustments for things like the victim, the defendant’s role, obstruction of justice, etc.

So for example, let’s say someone is convicted of bank robbery. The base offense level for robbery under the guidelines is 20. But then the judge would increase that level based on specific factors. If the person robbed the bank with a gun, that’s a 5-level increase. If they made off with $250,000, that’s another 2-level increase. So in the end, their total offense level might be 27.

Criminal History Categories

The other axis on the Sentencing Table is the defendant’s criminal history category, which ranges from I to VI. Category I is for defendants with little to no criminal record, while Category VI is reserved for those with very extensive criminal histories.To determine the criminal history category, the judge looks at the number and type of prior convictions, as well as factors like whether the defendant was on probation or parole at the time of the current offense. Each prior conviction is assigned a certain number of points. More serious crimes and more recent crimes are given more points. Then the total number of points determines the criminal history category.

The Sentencing Range

Once the judge has determined the total offense level and criminal history category, they can look at the Sentencing Table to find the recommended sentencing range, which is given in months. For instance, let’s say a defendant has an offense level of 27 and a criminal history category of III. Looking at the table, the recommended sentence would be between 87 and 108 months in prison.It’s important to note that these ranges are advisory, not mandatory. Since a Supreme Court case in 2005 called United States v. Booker, judges are not bound to stay within the guideline range. They must calculate and consider the guidelines, but they can “depart” or “vary” from the recommended range if they feel there are specific aggravating or mitigating circumstances in the case.

Zones of the Sentencing Table

The Sentencing Table is also divided into four “zones” – A, B, C, and D. These zones determine the eligibility for certain types of sentences:

• Zone A: Sentences of 0-6 months. Probation is possible.
• Zone B: Sentences of 1-15 months. Probation with conditions like home detention is possible.
• Zone C: Sentences of 10-18 months. At least half the sentence must be served in prison.
• Zone D: Sentences of 15 months or more. Prison is the only option.

So if a defendant’s sentencing range falls within Zone A or B, they might be able to avoid prison time altogether. But if they’re in Zone D, there’s no way around it – they’re going to be spending time behind bars.

Departures and Variances

As I mentioned, judges have the discretion to depart from the guideline range if they find that there are certain mitigating or aggravating circumstances that the Sentencing Commission didn’t fully consider when creating the guidelines.Some common reasons for downward departures (sentences lower than the guideline range) include:

• The defendant provided substantial assistance to the government in investigating or prosecuting another person
• The defendant committed the crime under coercion or duress
• The defendant’s mental capacity was significantly impaired
• The defendant accepted responsibility for the crime (this is usually an automatic 2 or 3-level reduction)

On the flip side, upward departures (sentences higher than the guideline range) might happen if:

• The crime resulted in death or serious bodily injury
• The defendant’s criminal history category substantially under-represents the seriousness of their criminal history
• The crime was a hate crime

In addition to departures, judges can also vary from the guidelines based on the factors laid out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). These factors include things like the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense and provide just punishment, the need to protect the public, and the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities.

The Importance of Plea Bargaining

In the vast majority of federal criminal cases (97% or more), the defendant ends up pleading guilty rather than going to trial. Often, this is because they’ve reached a plea agreement with the prosecutor.In a plea agreement, the defendant agrees to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or in exchange for the prosecutor recommending a certain sentence. The prosecutor might agree to drop certain charges, or to recommend a sentence at the low end of the guideline range. They might also agree to file a motion for a downward departure based on the defendant’s substantial assistance.Plea bargaining is a way for defendants to have some control over their sentence and avoid the risk of a much higher sentence if they were to lose at trial. It’s also a way for prosecutors to secure a conviction without having to go through a lengthy and costly trial.However, it‘s crucial that defendants understand the full implications of pleading guilty and the rights they’re giving up. This is where having a skilled and knowledgeable defense attorney is essential.

The Role of the Probation Officer and the Presentence Report

After a defendant has been convicted, either by pleading guilty or being found guilty at trial, a probation officer will prepare a presentence report (PSR). This report is a crucial document that the judge will rely on heavily in determining the sentence.The PSR will include a detailed account of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, their personal and family history, their employment and education, their physical and mental health, and any substance abuse issues. The probation officer will also calculate the offense level and criminal history category and recommend a sentencing range based on the guidelines.Both the prosecution and the defense have the opportunity to object to anything in the PSR that they disagree with. The judge will resolve any disputes at the sentencing hearing.It’s important for defendants to remember that the probation officer is not their friend, even though they may seem friendly and sympathetic. Anything a defendant says to the probation officer can and will be used against them. This is another reason why it’s crucial to have an attorney who can advise on what to say and what not to say.

The Sentencing Hearing

The sentencing hearing is where the rubber meets the road. This is where the judge will make the final decision on the defendant‘s sentence.At the hearing, the judge will hear arguments from both the prosecutor and the defense attorney. The prosecutor will usually argue for a sentence at the high end of the guideline range, while the defense will argue for a sentence at the low end, or even a departure or variance below the range.The defendant also has the right to speak at the hearing and to present evidence or testimony in support of a lower sentence. This is called the defendant‘s right to allocution.After considering all the evidence and arguments, the judge will announce the sentence. They must state the reasons for the sentence on the record, including any departures or variances from the guidelines.