What Factors Can Lengthen Your Prison Sentence in a Federal Case?

If you are dealing with a federal criminal charge, your trial is about more than just proving your innocence. The trial can also be a great time to argue for why you do not need a lengthy prison sentence. Though federal crimes might have suggested sentencing guidelines, there is still a lot of variation in sentences. Here are some of the most common factors that cause lengthy prison sentences.

The Type of Crime

The United States Sentencing Commission assigns a base offense level to every standard crime. This offense level goes up to 43, with higher numbers being more serious. Therefore, the type of crime you are charged with has a huge impact on your sentencing. If you commit a crime with a high base offense level, such as kidnapping, then your prison sentence will automatically be higher.

This is why so many plea deals focus on recategorizing your crime. For example, your lawyer might negotiate your charges down from second-degree murder to manslaughter. If you are charged with the more severe version of the crime, the federal government tends to give you a lengthier prison sentence.

The Severity of the Crime

The court can further increase your sentence based on the individual nature of your crime. They may take into account things like how many people were harmed and how egregious your behavior was. This type of aggravating factor is often a matter of perspective. Depending on the situation, your lawyer might help you explain that your behavior was not as bad as it first seemed to be.

However, there are a few situations where the severity of your crime is automatically considered worse. Things like harming children or other vulnerable people may result in more prison time. Taking on the leader or planner role in a crime will also further increase your sentence. Finally, taking intentional steps to obstruct justice will lengthen your sentence.

The Likelihood of Re-Offense

Often, long prison sentences are about protecting the public. If the court thinks that a criminal is likely to harm others, they might select a lengthier jail sentence. This gives the criminal more time for rehabilitation, and it reduces the time they have to commit more crimes after they get out of jail.

Determining how much risk a person is to the general public can be tricky. The court will usually look at the situation and the criminal’s history. For example, consider two people charged with first-degree murder. One tracked down the lover of their spouse and killed them as revenge, while the other selected a random victim and killed them for fun. The court might feel like the second perpetrator displays underlying mental viewpoints that may make them more likely to kill in the future.

Your Criminal History

Due to concerns about re-offending, the federal government will closely examine your criminal past. Having a past history of severe crimes will increase your prison sentence. Especially if you have committed the same exact crime in the past, you are likely to face a long prison sentence.

Your current criminal history also matters. If the case involves multiple counts of the same activity, you can end up with a longer prison sentence. For example, a person convicted of defrauding 50 investors may go to jail for longer than someone who defrauded two investors.

Your Attitude

Did you know that how you behave in court can end up impacting your sentence? The court is allowed to give you a longer sentence if they think you are not accepting responsibility. This is legal because the underlying idea is that those who do not accept responsibility or admit guilt are more likely to reoffend.

Things like truthfully admitting your role in the crime and pleading guilty right away may help to reduce your prison sentence. Furthermore, apologizing and making restitution to the victim before there is even a guilty verdict can help to shorten a sentence. Meanwhile, someone who lies about obvious facts and refuses to admit any wrongdoing may face a longer sentence.

Ultimately, if you want a shorter prison sentence, you need talented legal representation. A good attorney can argue that justice would not be served by giving you a lot of jail time. Explaining mitigating factors in your case may be able to reduce your risk of a long prison sentence.