Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts, 40651-40666 [2017-18076]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 164 / Friday, August 25, 2017 / Notices
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 994(a), (o), (p), (x);
USSC Rules of Practice and Procedure 4.4.
scope of the hearing, will be provided
by the Commission on its Web site at
www.ussc.gov.
William H. Pryor, Jr.,
Acting Chair.
BILLING CODE 2210–40–P
UNITED STATES SENTENCING
COMMISSION
Sentencing Guidelines for United
States Courts
United States Sentencing
Commission
ACTION: Notice of proposed amendments
to sentencing guidelines, policy
statements, and commentary. Request
for public comment, including public
comment regarding retroactive
application of any of the proposed
amendments. Notice of public hearing.
AGENCY:
The United States Sentencing
Commission is considering
promulgating amendments to the
sentencing guidelines, policy
statements, and commentary. This
notice sets forth the proposed
amendments and, for each proposed
amendment, a synopsis of the issues
addressed by that amendment. This
notice also sets forth several issues for
comment, some of which are set forth
together with the proposed
amendments, and one of which
(regarding retroactive application of
proposed amendments) is set forth in
the Supplementary Information section
of this notice.
DATES: (1) Written Public Comment.—
Written public comment regarding the
proposed amendments and issues for
comment set forth in this notice,
including public comment regarding
retroactive application of any of the
proposed amendments, should be
received by the Commission not later
than October 10, 2017. Written reply
comments, which may only respond to
issues raised in the original comment
period, should be received by the
Commission not later than November 6,
2017. Public comment regarding a
proposed amendment received after the
close of the comment period, and reply
comment received on issues not raised
in the original comment period, may not
be considered.
(2) Public Hearing.—The Commission
may hold a public hearing regarding the
proposed amendments and issues for
comment set forth in this notice. Further
information regarding any public
hearing that may be scheduled,
including requirements for testifying
and providing written testimony, as
well as the date, time, location, and
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SUMMARY:
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All written comment should
be sent to the Commission by electronic
mail or regular mail. The email address
for public comment is Public_
Comment@ussc.gov. The regular mail
address for public comment is United
States Sentencing Commission, One
Columbus Circle NE., Suite 2–500,
Washington, DC 20002–8002, Attention:
Public Affairs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christine Leonard, Director, Office of
Legislative and Public Affairs, (202)
502–4500, pubaffairs@ussc.gov.
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
the Congress not later than the first day
of May each year pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
994(p).
Publication of a proposed amendment
requires the affirmative vote of at least
three voting members of the
Commission and is deemed to be a
request for public comment on the
proposed amendment. See Rules 2.2 and
4.4 of the Commission’s Rules of
Practice and Procedure. In contrast, the
affirmative vote of at least four voting
members is required to promulgate an
amendment and submit it to Congress.
See Rule 2.2; 28 U.S.C. 994(p).
The proposed amendments in this
notice are presented in one of two
formats. First, some of the amendments
are proposed as specific revisions to a
guideline, policy statement, or
commentary. Bracketed text within a
proposed amendment indicates a
heightened interest on the
Commission’s part in comment and
suggestions regarding alternative policy
choices; for example, a proposed
enhancement of [2][4][6] levels indicates
that the Commission is considering, and
invites comment on, alternative policy
choices regarding the appropriate level
of enhancement. Similarly, bracketed
text within a specific offense
characteristic or application note means
that the Commission specifically invites
comment on whether the proposed
provision is appropriate. Second, the
Commission has highlighted certain
issues for comment and invites
ADDRESSES:
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suggestions on how the Commission
should respond to those issues.
In summary, the proposed
amendments and issues for comment set
forth in this notice are as follows:
(1) A multi-part proposed amendment
to respond to the Bipartisan Budget Act
of 2015, Public Law 114–74 (Nov. 2,
2015), including (A) revisions to
Appendix A (Statutory Index), and a
related issue for comment; and (B)
amending § 2B1.1 (Theft, Property
Destruction, and Fraud) to address new
increased penalties for certain persons
who commit fraud offenses under
certain Social Security programs, and
related issues for comment;
(2) a multi-part proposed amendment
relating to the findings and
recommendations contained in the May
2016 Report of the Commission’s Tribal
Issues Advisory Group, including (A)
amending the Commentary to § 4A1.3
(Departures Based on Inadequacy of
Criminal History Category (Policy
Statement)) to set forth a non-exhaustive
list of factors for the court to consider
in determining whether, and to what
extent, an upward departure based on a
tribal court conviction is appropriate,
and related issues for comment; and (B)
amending the Commentary to § 1B1.1
(Application Instructions) to provide a
definition of ‘‘court protection order,’’
and a related issue for comment;
(3) a multi-part proposed amendment
to Chapters Four (Criminal History and
Criminal Livelihood) and Five
(Determining the Sentence), including
(A) setting forth options for a new
Chapter Four guideline, at § 4C1.1 (First
Offenders), and amending § 5C1.1
(Imposition of a Term of Imprisonment)
to provide lower guideline ranges for
‘‘first offenders’’ generally and increase
the availability of alternatives to
incarceration for such offenders at the
lower levels of the Sentencing Table,
and related issues for comment; and (B)
revising Chapter Five to (i) amend the
Sentencing Table in Chapter Five, Part
A to expand Zone B by consolidating
Zones B and C and (ii) amend the
Commentary to § 5F1.2 (Home
Detention) to revise language requiring
electronic monitoring, and related
issues for comment.
(4) a proposed amendment to the
Commentary to § 3E1.1 (Acceptance of
Responsibility) setting forth options to
revise how a defendant’s challenge to
relevant conduct should be considered
in determining whether the defendant
has accepted responsibility for purposes
of the guideline, and a related issue for
comment;
(5) a multi-part proposed amendment
to the Guidelines Manual to respond to
recently enacted legislation and
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miscellaneous guideline issues,
including (A) amending § 2B5.3
(Criminal Infringement of Copyright or
Trademark) to respond to changes made
by the Transnational Drug Trafficking
Act of 2015, Public Law 114–154 (May
16, 2016); (B) amending § 2A3.5 (Failure
to Register as a Sex Offender), § 2A3.6
(Aggravated Offenses Relating to
Registration as a Sex Offender), and
Appendix A (Statutory Index) to
respond to changes made by the
International Megan’s Law to Prevent
Child Exploitation and Other Sexual
Crimes Through Advanced Notification
of Traveling Sex Offenders Act, Public
Law 114–119 (Feb. 8, 2016); (C)
revisions to Appendix A (Statutory
Index) to respond to a new offense
established by the Frank R. Lautenberg
Chemical Safety for the 21st Century
Act, Public Law 114–182 (June 22,
2016); (D) a technical amendment to
§ 2G1.3 (Promoting a Commercial Sex
Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with
a Minor; Transportation of Minors to
Engage in a Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct; Travel to
Engage in Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a
Minor; Sex Trafficking of Children; Use
of Interstate Facilities to Transport
Information about a Minor); and (E)
amending § 5D1.3 (Conditions of
Supervised Release) to respond to
changes made by the Justice for All
Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law
114–324 (Dec. 16, 2016).
(6) a proposed amendment to make
technical changes to § 2D1.1 (Unlawful
Manufacturing, Importing, Exporting, or
Trafficking (Including Possession with
Intent to Commit These Offenses);
Attempt or Conspiracy) to replace
‘‘marihuana equivalency’’ as the
conversion factor in the Drug
Equivalency Tables for determining
penalties for certain controlled
substances;
(7) a proposed amendment to make
various technical changes to the
Guidelines Manual, including (A) an
explanatory note in Chapter One, Part
A, Subpart 1(4)(b) (Departures) and
clarifying changes to the Commentary to
§ 2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction,
and Fraud); (B) technical changes to
§ 4A1.2 (Definitions and Instructions for
Computing Criminal History) and to the
Commentary of other guidelines to
correct title references to § 4A1.3
(Departures Based on Inadequacy of
Criminal History Category (Policy
Statement)); and (C) clerical changes to
§ 2D1.11 (Unlawful Distributing,
Importing, Exporting or Possessing a
Listed Chemical; Attempt or
Conspiracy), § 5D1.3 (Conditions of
Supervised Release), Appendix A
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(Statutory Index), and to the
Commentary of other guidelines.
In addition, the Commission requests
public comment regarding whether,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2) and 28
U.S.C. 994(u), any proposed amendment
published in this notice should be
included in subsection (d) of § 1B1.10
(Reduction in Term of Imprisonment as
a Result of Amended Guideline Range
(Policy Statement)) as an amendment
that may be applied retroactively to
previously sentenced defendants. The
Commission lists in § 1B1.10(d) the
specific guideline amendments that the
court may apply retroactively under 18
U.S.C. 3582(c)(2). The background
commentary to § 1B1.10 lists the
purpose of the amendment, the
magnitude of the change in the
guideline range made by the
amendment, and the difficulty of
applying the amendment retroactively
to determine an amended guideline
range under § 1B1.10(b) as among the
factors the Commission considers in
selecting the amendments included in
§ 1B1.10(d). To the extent practicable,
public comment should address each of
these factors.
The text of the proposed amendments
and related issues for comment are set
forth below. Additional information
pertaining to the proposed amendments
and issues for comment described in
this notice may be accessed through the
Commission’s Web site at
www.ussc.gov.
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 994(a), (o), (p), (x);
USSC Rules of Practice and Procedure 4.3,
4.4.
William H. Pryor, Jr.,
Acting Chair.
Proposed Amendments to the
Sentencing Guidelines, Policy
Statements, and Official Commentary
1. Bipartisan Budget Act
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
This proposed amendment responds to
the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015,
Public Law 114–74 (Nov. 2, 2015),
which, among other things, amended
three existing criminal statutes
concerned with fraudulent claims under
certain Social Security programs.
The three criminal statutes amended
by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 are
sections 208 (Penalties [for fraud
involving the Federal Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance Trust Fund]), 811
(Penalties for fraud [involving special
benefits for certain World War II
veterans]), and 1632 (Penalties for fraud
[involving supplemental security
income for the aged, blind, and
disabled]) of the Social Security Act (42
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U.S.C. 408, 1011, and 1383a,
respectively).
(A) Conspiracy To Commit Social
Security Fraud
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
added new subdivisions prohibiting
conspiracy to commit fraud for
substantive offenses already contained
in the three statutes (42 U.S.C. 408,
1011, and 1383a). For each of the three
statutes, the new subdivision provides
that whoever ‘‘conspires to commit any
offense described in any of [the]
paragraphs’’ enumerated shall be
imprisoned for not more than five years,
the same statutory maximum penalty
applicable to the substantive offense.
The three amended statutes are
currently referenced in Appendix A
(Statutory Index) to § 2B1.1 (Theft,
Property Destruction, and Fraud). The
proposed amendment would amend
Appendix A so that sections 408, 1011,
and 1383a of Title 42 are referenced not
only to § 2B1.1 but also to § 2X1.1
(Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy
(Not Covered by a Specific Office
Guideline)).
An issue for comment is provided.
(B) Increased Penalties for Certain
Individuals Violating Positions of Trust
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
also amended sections 408, 1011, and
1383a of Title 42 to add increased
penalties for certain persons who
commit fraud offenses under the
relevant Social Security programs. The
Act included a provision in all three
statutes identifying such a person as:
a person who receives a fee or other
income for services performed in
connection with any determination with
respect to benefits under this title
(including a claimant representative,
translator, or current or former
employee of the Social Security
Administration), or who is a physician
or other health care provider who
submits, or causes the submission of,
medical or other evidence in connection
with any such determination . . . .
A person who meets this requirement
and is convicted of a fraud offense
under one of the three amended statutes
may be imprisoned for not more than
ten years, double the otherwise
applicable five-year penalty for other
offenders. The new increased penalties
apply to all of the fraudulent conduct in
subsection (a) of the three statutes.
The proposed amendment would
amend § 2B1.1 to address cases in
which the defendant was convicted
under 42 U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or
1383a(a) and the statutory maximum
term of ten years’ imprisonment applies.
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It provides an enhancement of [4][2]
levels and a minimum offense level of
[14][12] for such cases. It also adds
Commentary specifying whether an
adjustment under § 3B1.3 (Abuse of
Position of Trust or Use of Special Skill)
applies — bracketing two possibilities:
if the enhancement applies, the
adjustment does not apply; and if the
enhancement applies, the adjustment is
not precluded from applying.
Issues for comment are also provided.
(A) Conspiracy To Commit Social
Security Fraud
Proposed Amendment
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is
amended in the line referenced to 42
U.S.C. 408 by inserting ‘‘, 2X1.1’’ at the
end; in the line referenced to 42 U.S.C.
1011 by inserting ‘‘, 2X1.1’’ at the end;
and in the line referenced to 42 U.S.C.
1383a(a) by inserting ‘‘, 2X1.1’’ at the
end.
Issue for Comment
1. Part A of the proposed amendment
would reference the new conspiracy
offenses under 42 U.S.C. 408, 1011, and
1383a to § 2X1.1 (Attempt, Solicitation,
or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a
Specific Office Guideline)). The
Commission invites comment on
whether the guidelines covered by the
proposed amendment adequately
account for these offenses. If not, what
revisions to the guidelines would be
appropriate to account for these
offenses? Should the Commission
reference these new offenses to other
guidelines instead of, or in addition to,
the guidelines covered by the proposed
amendment?
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(B) Increased Penalties for Certain
Individuals Violating Positions of Trust
Proposed Amendment
Section 2B1.1(b) is amended by
redesignating paragraphs (13) through
(19) as paragraphs (14) through (20),
respectively, and by inserting the
following new paragraph (13):
‘‘(13) If the defendant was convicted
under 42 U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or
1383a(a) and the statutory maximum
term of ten years’ imprisonment applies,
increase by [4][2] levels. If the resulting
offense level is less than [14][12],
increase to level [14][12].’’.
The Commentary to § 2B1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended by
redesignating Notes 11 through 20 as
Notes 12 through 21, respectively, and
by inserting the following new Note 11:
‘‘11. Interaction of Subsection (b)(13)
and § 3B1.3.—[If subsection (b)(13)
applies, do not apply § 3B1.3 (Abuse of
Position of Trust or Use of Special
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Skill).][Application of subsection (b)(13)
does not preclude a defendant from
consideration for an adjustment under
§ 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position of Trust or
Use of Special Skill).]’’.
Issues for Comment
1. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
amended sections 408, 1011, and 1383a
of Title 42 to include a provision in all
three statutes increasing the statutory
maximum term of imprisonment from
five years to ten years for certain
persons who commit fraud offenses
under subsection (a) of the three
statutes. The Act identifies such a
person as:
a person who receives a fee or other
income for services performed in
connection with any determination with
respect to benefits under this title
(including a claimant representative,
translator, or current or former
employee of the Social Security
Administration), or who is a physician
or other health care provider who
submits, or causes the submission of,
medical or other evidence in connection
with any such determination . . . .
The Commission seeks comment on
how, if at all, the guidelines should be
amended to address cases in which the
offense of conviction is 42 U.S.C. 408,
1011, or 1383a, and the statutory
maximum term of ten years’
imprisonment applies because the
defendant was a person described in 42
U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a). Are
these cases adequately addressed by
existing provisions in the guidelines,
such as the adjustment in § 3B1.3
(Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of
Special Skill)? If so, as an alternative to
the proposed amendment, should the
Commission amend § 2B1.1 only to
provide an application note that
expressly provides that, for a defendant
subject to the ten years’ statutory
maximum in such cases, an adjustment
under § 3B1.3 ordinarily would apply?
If not, how should the Commission
amend the guidelines to address these
cases?
2. The proposed amendment would
amend § 2B1.1 to provide an
enhancement and a minimum offense
level for cases in which the defendant
was convicted under 42 U.S.C. 408(a),
1011(a), or 1383a(a) and the statutory
maximum term of ten years’
imprisonment applies because the
defendant was a person described in 42
U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a).
However, there may be cases in which
a defendant, who meets the criteria set
forth for the new statutory maximum
term of ten years’ imprisonment, is
convicted under a general fraud statute
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40653
(e.g., 18 U.S.C. 1341) for an offense
involving conduct described in 42
U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a).
The Commission seeks comment on
whether the Commission should instead
amend § 2B1.1 to provide a general
specific offense characteristic for such
cases. For example, should the
Commission provide an enhancement
for cases in which the offense involved
conduct described in 42 U.S.C. 408(a),
1011(a), or 1383a(a) and the defendant
is a person ‘‘who receives a fee or other
income for services performed in
connection with any determination with
respect to benefits [covered by those
statutory provisions] (including a
claimant representative, translator, or
current or former employee of the Social
Security Administration), or who is a
physician or other health care provider
who submits, or causes the submission
of, medical or other evidence in
connection with any such
determination’’? If so, how many levels
would be appropriate for such an
enhancement? How should such an
enhancement interact with the existing
enhancements at § 2B1.1 and the
Chapter Three adjustment at § 3B1.3
(Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of
Special Skill)?
2. Tribal Issues
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
This proposed amendment is the result
of the Commission’s study of the May
2016 Report of the Commission’s Tribal
Issues Advisory Group. See U.S.
Sentencing Comm’n, ‘‘Notice of Final
Priorities,’’ 82 FR 39949 (Aug. 22, 2017).
See also Report of the Tribal Issues
Advisory Group (May 16, 2016), at
https://www.ussc.gov/research/researchpublications/report-tribal-issuesadvisory-group.
In 2015, the Commission established
the Tribal Issues Advisory Group (TIAG)
as an ad hoc advisory group to the
Commission. Among other things, the
Commission tasked the TIAG with
studying the following issues—
(A) the operation of the federal
sentencing guidelines as they relate to
American Indian defendants and
victims and to offenses committed in
Indian Country, and any viable methods
for revising the guidelines to (i) improve
their operation or (ii) address particular
concerns of tribal communities and
courts;
(B) whether there are disparities in
the application of the federal sentencing
guidelines to American Indian
defendants, and, if so, how to address
them;
(C) the impact of the federal
sentencing guidelines on offenses
committed in Indian Country in
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comparison with analogous offenses
prosecuted in state courts and tribal
courts;
(D) the use of tribal court convictions
in the computation of criminal history
scores, risk assessment, and for other
purposes;
(E) how the federal sentencing
guidelines should account for protection
orders issued by tribal courts; and
(F) any other issues relating to
American Indian defendants and
victims, or to offenses committed in
Indian Country, that the TIAG considers
appropriate. See Tribal Issues Advisory
Group Charter § 1(b)(3).
The Commission also directed the
TIAG to present a final report with its
findings and recommendations,
including any recommendations that the
TIAG considered appropriate on
potential amendments to the guidelines
and policy statements. See id. § 6(a). On
May 16, 2016, the TIAG presented to the
Commission its final report. Among the
recommendations suggested in the
Report, the TIAG recommends revisions
to the Guidelines Manual relating to the
use of tribal court convictions in the
computation of criminal history points
and how the guidelines should account
for protection orders issued by tribal
courts.
The proposed amendment contains
two parts (Parts A and B). The
Commission is considering whether to
promulgate one or both of these parts,
as they are not mutually exclusive.
(A) Tribal Court Convictions
Pursuant to Chapter Four, Part A
(Criminal History), sentences resulting
from tribal court convictions are not
counted for purposes of calculating
criminal history points, but may be
considered under § 4A1.3 (Departures
Based on Inadequacy of Criminal
History Category (Policy Statement)).
See USSG § 4A1.2(i). The policy
statement at § 4A1.3 allows for upward
departures if reliable information
indicates that the defendant’s criminal
history category substantially
underrepresents the seriousness of the
defendant’s criminal history. Among the
grounds for departure, the policy
statement includes ‘‘[p]rior sentences
not used in computing the criminal
history category (e.g., sentences for
foreign and tribal offenses).’’ USSG
§ 4A1.3(a)(2)(A).
As noted in the TIAG’s report, in
recent years there have been important
changes in tribal criminal jurisdiction.
In 2010, Congress enacted the Tribal
Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA),
Public Law 111–211, to address high
rates of violent crime in Indian Country
by improving criminal justice funding
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and infrastructure in tribal government,
and expanding the sentencing authority
of tribal court systems. In 2013, the
Violence Against Women
Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA
Reauthorization), Public Law 113–4,
was enacted to expand the criminal
jurisdiction of tribes to prosecute,
sentence, and convict Indians and nonIndians who assault Indian spouses or
dating partners or violate a protection
order in Indian Country. It also
established new assault offenses and
enhanced existing assault offenses. Both
statutes increased criminal jurisdiction
for tribal courts, but also required more
robust court procedures and provided
more procedural protections for
defendants.
The TIAG notes in its report that
‘‘[w]hile some tribes have exercised
expanded jurisdiction under TLOA and
the VAWA Reauthorization, most have
not done so. Given the lack of tribal
resources, and the absence of significant
additional funding under TLOA and the
VAWA Reauthorization to date, it is not
certain that more tribes will be able to
do so any time soon.’’ TIAG Report, at
10–11. Members of the TIAG describe
their experience with tribal courts as
‘‘widely varied,’’ expressing among their
findings certain concerns about funding,
perceptions of judicial bias or political
influence, due process protections, and
access to tribal court records. Id. at 11–
12.
The TIAG report highlights that
‘‘[t]ribal courts occupy a unique and
valuable place in the criminal justice
system,’’ while also recognizing that
‘‘[t]ribal courts range in style.’’ Id. at 13.
According to the TIAG, the differences
in style and the concerns expressed
above ‘‘make it often difficult for a
federal court to determine how to weigh
tribal court convictions in rendering a
sentencing decision.’’ Id. at 11. It also
asserts that ‘‘taking a single approach to
the consideration of tribal court
convictions would be very difficult and
could potentially lead to a disparate
result among Indian defendants in
federal courts.’’ Id. at 12. Thus, the
TIAG concludes that tribal convictions
should not be counted for purposes of
determining criminal history points
pursuant to Chapter Four, Part A, and
that ‘‘the current use of USSG § 4A1.3
to depart upward in individual cases
continues to allow the best formulation
of ‘sufficient but not greater than
necessary’ sentences for defendants,
while not increasing sentencing
disparities or introducing due process
concerns.’’ Id. Nevertheless, the TIAG
recommends that the Commission
amend § 4A1.3 to provide guidance and
a more structured analytical framework
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for courts to consider when determining
whether a departure is appropriate
based on a defendant’s record of tribal
court convictions. The guidance
recommended by the TIAG ‘‘collectively
. . . reflect[s] important considerations
for courts to balance the rights of
defendants, the unique and important
status of tribal courts, the need to avoid
disparate sentences in light of disparate
tribal court practices and circumstances,
and the goal of accurately assessing the
severity of any individual defendant’s
criminal history.’’ Id. at 13.
The proposed amendment would
amend the Commentary to § 4A1.3 to set
forth a non-exhaustive list of factors for
the court to consider in determining
whether, and to what extent, an upward
departure based on a tribal court
conviction is appropriate.
Issues for comment are also provided.
(B) Court Protection Orders
Under the Guidelines Manual, the
violation of a court protection order is
a specific offense characteristic in three
Chapter Two offense guidelines. See
USSG §§ 2A2.2 (Aggravated Assault),
2A6.1 (Threatening or Harassing
Communications; Hoaxes; False Liens),
and 2A6.2 (Stalking or Domestic
Violence). The Commission has heard
concerns that the term ‘‘court protection
order’’ has not been defined in the
guidelines and should be clarified.
The TIAG notes in its report the
importance of defining ‘‘court
protection order’’ in the guidelines,
because—
[a] clear definition of that term will ensure
that orders used for sentencing
enhancements are the result of court
proceedings assuring appropriate due process
protections, that there is consistent
identification and treatment of such orders,
and that such orders issued by tribal courts
receive treatment consistent with that of
other issuing jurisdictions. TIAG Report, at
14.
The TIAG recommends that the
Commission adopt a definition of ‘‘court
protection order’’ that incorporates the
statutory provisions at 18 U.S.C. 2265
and 2266. Section 2266(5) provides that
the term ‘‘protection order’’ includes:
(A) any injunction, restraining order, or
any other order issued by a civil or criminal
court for the purpose of preventing violent or
threatening acts or harassment against, sexual
violence, or contact or communication with
or physical proximity to, another person,
including any temporary or final order issued
by a civil or criminal court whether obtained
by filing an independent action or as a
pendente lite order in another proceeding so
long as any civil or criminal order was issued
in response to a complaint, petition, or
motion filed by or on behalf of a person
seeking protection; and
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(B) any support, child custody or visitation
provisions, orders, remedies or relief issued
as part of a protection order, restraining
order, or injunction pursuant to State, tribal,
territorial, or local law authorizing the
issuance of protection orders, restraining
orders, or injunctions for the protection of
victims of domestic violence, sexual assault,
dating violence, or stalking. 18 U.S.C.
2266(5).
Section 2265(b) provides that
A protection order issued by a State, tribal,
or territorial court is consistent with this
subsection if—
(1) such court has jurisdiction over the
parties and matter under the law of such
State, Indian tribe, or territory; and
(2) reasonable notice and opportunity to be
heard is given to the person against whom
the order is sought sufficient to protect that
person’s right to due process. In the case of
ex parte orders, notice and opportunity to be
heard must be provided within the time
required by State, tribal, or territorial law,
and in any event within a reasonable time
after the order is issued, sufficient to protect
the respondent’s due process rights. 18
U.S.C. 2265(b).
The proposed amendment would
amend the Commentary to § 1B1.1
(Application Instructions) to provide a
definition of court protection order
derived from 18 U.S.C. 2266(5), with a
provision that it must be consistent with
18 U.S.C. 2265(b).
An issue for comment is also
provided.
(A) Tribal Court Convictions
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Proposed Amendment
Section 4A1.3(a)(2) is amended by
striking ‘‘subsection (a)’’ and inserting
‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’; and by striking
‘‘tribal offenses’’ and inserting ‘‘tribal
convictions’’.
The Commentary to § 4A1.3 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 2 by inserting at the end the
following new paragraph (C):
‘‘(C) Upward Departures Based on
Tribal Court Convictions.—In
determining whether, or to what extent,
an upward departure based on a tribal
court conviction is appropriate, the
court shall consider the factors set forth
in § 4A1.3(a) above and, in addition,
may consider relevant factors such as
the following:
(i) The defendant was represented by
a lawyer, had the right to a trial by jury,
and received other due process
protections consistent with those
provided to criminal defendants under
the United States Constitution.
(ii) The tribe was exercising expanded
jurisdiction under the Tribal Law and
Order Act of 2010, Public Law 111–211
(July 29, 2010), and the Violence
Against Women Reauthorization Act of
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2013, Public Law 113–4 (March 7,
2013).
(iii) The tribal court conviction is not
based on the same conduct that formed
the basis for a conviction from another
jurisdiction that receives criminal
history points pursuant to this Chapter.
(iv) The conviction is for an offense
that otherwise would be counted under
§ 4A1.2 (Definitions and Instructions for
Computing Criminal History).
[(v) At the time the defendant was
sentenced, the tribal government had
formally expressed a desire that
convictions from its courts should be
counted for purposes of computing
criminal history pursuant to the
Guidelines Manual.]’’.
Issues for Comment
1. Part A of the proposed amendment
would provide a list of relevant factors
that courts may consider, in addition to
the factors set forth in § 4A1.3(a), in
determining whether an upward
departure based on a tribal court
conviction may be warranted. The
Commission seeks comment on whether
the factors provided in the proposed
amendment are appropriate. Should any
factors be deleted or changed? Should
the Commission provide additional or
different guidance? If so, what guidance
should the Commission provide?
In particular, the Commission seeks
comment on how these factors should
interact with each other and with the
factors already contained in § 4A1.3(a).
Should the Commission provide greater
emphasis on one or more factors set
forth in the proposed amendment? For
example, how much weight should be
given to factors that address due process
concerns (subdivisions (i) and (ii)) in
relation to the other factors provided in
the proposed amendment, such as those
factors relevant to preventing
unwarranted double counting
(subdivisions (iii) and (iv))? Should the
Commission provide that in order to
consider whether an upward departure
based on a tribal court conviction is
appropriate, and before taking into
account any other factor, the court must
first determine as a threshold factor that
the defendant received due process
protections consistent with those
provided to criminal defendants under
the United States Constitution?
Finally, Part A of the proposed
amendment brackets the possibility of
including as a factor that courts may
consider in deciding whether to depart
based on a tribal court conviction if, ‘‘at
the time the defendant was sentenced,
the tribal government had formally
expressed a desire that convictions from
its courts should be counted for
purposes of computing criminal history
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40655
pursuant to the Guidelines Manual.’’
The Commission invites broad comment
on this factor and its interaction with
the other factors set forth in the
proposed amendment. Is this factor
relevant to the court’s determination of
whether to depart? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of
including such a factor? How much
weight should be given to this factor in
relation to the other factors provided in
the proposed amendment? What criteria
should be used in determining when a
tribal government has ‘‘formally
expressed a desire’’ that convictions
from its courts should count? How
would tribal governments notify and
make available such statements?
2. Pursuant to subsection (i) of
§ 4A1.2 (Definitions and Instructions for
Computing Criminal History), sentences
resulting from tribal court convictions
are not counted for purposes of
calculating criminal history points, but
may be considered under § 4A1.3
(Departures Based on Inadequacy of
Criminal History Category (Policy
Statement)). As stated above, the policy
statement at § 4A1.3 allows for upward
departures if reliable information
indicates that the defendant’s criminal
history category substantially
underrepresents the seriousness of the
defendant’s criminal history.
The Commission invites comment on
whether the Commission should
consider changing how the guidelines
account for sentences resulting from
tribal court convictions for purposes of
determining criminal history points
pursuant to Chapter Four, Part A
(Criminal History). Should the
Commission consider amending
§ 4A1.2(i) and, if so, how? For example,
should the guidelines treat sentences
resulting from tribal court convictions
same as other sentences imposed for
federal, state, and local offenses that
may be used to compute criminal
history points? Should the guidelines
treat sentences resulting from tribal
court convictions more akin to military
sentences and distinguish between
certain types of tribal courts? Is there a
different approach the Commission
should follow in addressing the use of
tribal court convictions in the
computation of criminal history scores?
(B) Court Protection Orders
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to § 1B1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 1 by redesignating paragraphs (D)
through (L) as paragraphs (E) through
(M), respectively; and by inserting the
following new paragraph (D):
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‘‘(D) ‘court protection order’ means
‘protection order’ as defined by 18
U.S.C. 2266(5) and consistent with 18
U.S.C. 2265(b).’’.
Issue for Comment
1. Part B of the proposed amendment
would include in the Commentary to
§ 1B1.1 (Application Instructions) a
definition of court protection order
derived from 18 U.S.C. 2266(5) and
consistent with 18 U.S.C. 2265(b). Is this
definition appropriate? If not, what
definition, if any, should the
Commission provide?
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3. First Offenders/Alternatives to
Incarceration
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
The proposed amendment contains two
parts (Part A and Part B). The
Commission is considering whether to
promulgate either or both of these parts,
as they are not mutually exclusive.
(A) First Offenders
Part A of the proposed amendment is
primarily informed by the Commission’s
multi-year study of recidivism,
including the circumstances that
correlate with increased or reduced
recidivism. See U.S. Sentencing
Comm’n, ‘‘Notice of Final Priorities,’’ 82
FR 39949 (Aug. 22, 2017). It is also
informed by the Commission’s
continued study of alternatives to
incarceration. Id.
Under the Guidelines Manual,
offenders with minimal or no criminal
history are classified into Criminal
History Category I. ‘‘First offenders,’’
offenders with no criminal history, are
addressed in the guidelines only by
reference to Criminal History Category I.
However, Criminal History Category I
includes not only ‘‘first’’ offenders but
also offenders with varying criminal
histories, such as offenders with no
criminal history points and those with
one criminal history point. Accordingly,
the following offenders are classified in
the same category: (1) first time
offenders with no prior convictions; (2)
offenders who have prior convictions
that are not counted because they were
not within the time limits set forth in
§ 4A1.2(d) and (e); (3) offenders who
have prior convictions that are not used
in computing the criminal history
category for reasons other than their
‘‘staleness’’ (e.g., sentences resulting
from foreign or tribal court convictions,
minor misdemeanor convictions or
infractions); and (4) offenders with a
prior conviction that received only one
criminal history point.
Part A sets forth a new Chapter Four
guideline, at § 4C1.1 (First Offenders),
that would provide lower guideline
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ranges for ‘‘first offenders’’ generally
and increase the availability of
alternatives to incarceration for such
offenders at the lower levels of the
Sentencing Table (compared to
otherwise similar offenders in Criminal
History Category I). Recidivism data
analyzed by the Commission indicate
that ‘‘first offenders’’ generally pose the
lowest risk of recidivism. See, e.g., U.S.
Sentencing Comm’n, ‘‘Recidivism
Among Federal Offenders: A
Comprehensive Overview,’’ at 18 (2016),
available at https://www.ussc.gov/
research/research-publications/
recidivism-among-federal-offenderscomprehensive-overview. In addition, 28
U.S.C. 994(j) directs that alternatives to
incarceration are generally appropriate
for first offenders not convicted of a
violent or otherwise serious offense. The
new Chapter Four guideline, in
conjunction with the revision to § 5C1.1
(Imposition of a Term of Imprisonment)
described below, would further
implement the congressional directive
at section 994(j).
Part A of the proposed amendment
provides two options for defining a
‘‘first offender’’ who would be eligible
for a decrease in offense level under the
new guideline. Option 1 defines a
defendant as a ‘‘first offender’’ if the
defendant did not receive any criminal
history points from Chapter Four, Part
A. Option 2 defines a defendant as a
‘‘first offender’’ if the defendant has no
prior convictions of any kind.
Part A also provides two options for
the decrease in offense level that would
apply to a first offender. Option 1
provides a decrease of [1] level from the
offense level determined under Chapters
Two and Three. Option 2 provides a
decrease of [2] levels if the final offense
level determined under Chapters Two
and Three is less than level [16], or a
decrease of [1] level if the offense level
determined under Chapters Two and
Three is level [16] or greater.
Part A also amends § 5C1.1
(Imposition of a Term of Imprisonment)
to add a new subsection (g) that
provides that if (1) the defendant is
determined to be a first offender under
§ 4C1.1 (First Offender), (2) [the instant
offense of conviction is not a crime of
violence][the defendant did not use
violence or credible threats of violence
or possess a firearm or other dangerous
weapon in connection with the offense],
and (3) the guideline range applicable to
that defendant is in Zone A or Zone B
of the Sentencing Table, the court
ordinarily should impose a sentence
other than a sentence of imprisonment
in accordance with the other sentencing
options.
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Finally, Part A of the proposed
amendment also provides issues for
comment.
(B) Consolidation of Zones B and C in
the Sentencing Table
Part B of the proposed amendment is
a result of the Commission’s continued
study of alternatives to incarceration.
See U.S. Sentencing Comm’n, ‘‘Notice of
Final Priorities,’’ 82 FR 39949 (Aug. 22,
2017).
The Guidelines Manual defines and
allocates sentencing options in Chapter
Five (Determining the Sentence). This
chapter sets forth ‘‘zones’’ in the
Sentencing Table based on the
minimum months of imprisonment in
each cell. The Sentencing Table sorts all
sentencing ranges into four zones,
labeled A through D. Each zone allows
for different sentencing options, as
follows:
Zone A.—All sentence ranges within
Zone A, regardless of the underlying
offense level or criminal history
category, are zero to six months. A
sentencing court has the discretion to
impose a sentence that is a fine-only,
probation-only, probation with a
confinement condition (home detention,
community confinement, or intermittent
confinement), a split sentence (term of
imprisonment with term of supervised
release with condition of confinement),
or imprisonment. Zone A allows for
probation without any conditions of
confinement.
Zone B.—Sentence ranges in Zone B
are from one to 15 months of
imprisonment. Zone B allows for a
probation term to be substituted for
imprisonment, contingent upon the
probation term including conditions of
confinement. Zone B allows for nonprison sentences, which technically
result in sentencing ranges larger than
six months, because the minimum term
of imprisonment is one month and the
maximum terms begin at seven months.
To avoid sentencing ranges exceeding
six months, the guidelines require that
probationary sentences in Zone B
include conditions of confinement.
Zone B also allows for a term of
imprisonment (of at least one month)
followed by a term of supervised release
with a condition of confinement (i.e., a
‘‘split sentence’’) or a term of
imprisonment only.
Zone C.—Sentences in Zone C range
from 10 to 18 months of imprisonment.
Zone C allows for split sentences, which
must include a term of imprisonment
equivalent to at least half of the
minimum of the applicable guideline
range. The remaining half of the term
requires supervised release with a
condition of community confinement or
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home detention. Alternatively, the court
has the option of imposing a term of
imprisonment only.
Zone D.—The final zone, Zone D,
allows for imprisonment only, ranging
from 15 months to life.
Part B of the proposed amendment
expands Zone B by consolidating Zones
B and C. The expanded Zone B would
include sentence ranges from one to 18
months and allow for the sentencing
options described above. Although the
proposed amendment would in fact
delete Zone C by its consolidation with
Zone B, Zone D would not be
redesignated. Finally, Part B makes
conforming changes to §§ 5B1.1
(Imposition of a Term of Probation) and
5C1.1 (Imposition of a Term of
Imprisonment).
Part B also amends the Commentary
to § 5F1.2 (Home Detention) to remove
the language instructing that (1)
electronic monitoring ‘‘ordinarily
should be used in connection with’’
home detention; (2) alternative means of
surveillance may be used ‘‘so long as
they are effective as electronic
monitoring;’’ and (3) ‘‘surveillance
necessary for effective use of home
detention ordinarily requires’’ electronic
monitoring.
Issues for comment are also provided.
Commentary
Application Note:
(b) If the defendant is determined to
be a first offender under subsection (a),
decrease the offense level determined
under Chapters Two and Three by [1]
level.]
1. Cases Involving Mandatory
Minimum Penalties.—If the case
involves a statutorily required minimum
sentence of at least five years and the
defendant meets the criteria set forth in
subsection (a) of § 5C1.2 (Limitation on
Applicability of Statutory Minimum
Sentences in Certain Cases), the offense
level determined under this section
shall be not less than level 17. See
§ 5C1.2(b).’’.
Section 5C1.1 is amended by inserting
at the end the following new subsection
(g):
‘‘(g) In cases in which (1) the
defendant is determined to be a first
offender under § 4C1.1 (First Offender),
(2) [the instant offense of conviction is
not a crime of violence][the defendant
did not use violence or credible threats
of violence or possess a firearm or other
dangerous weapon in connection with
the offense], and (3) the guideline range
applicable to that defendant is in Zone
A or B of the Sentencing Table, the
court ordinarily should impose a
sentence other than a sentence of
imprisonment in accordance with the
other sentencing options set forth in this
guideline.’’.
The Commentary to § 5C1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended by
inserting at the end the following new
Note 10:
‘‘10. Application of Subsection (g).—
(A) Sentence of Probation
Prohibited.—The court may not impose
a sentence of probation pursuant to this
provision if prohibited by statute. See
§ 5B1.1 (Imposition of a Term of
Probation).
[(B) Definition of ‘Crime of
Violence’.—For purposes of subsection
(g), ‘crime of violence’ has the meaning
given that term in § 4B1.2 (Definitions of
Terms Used in Section 4B1.1).
(C) Sentence of Imprisonment for First
Offenders.—A sentence of
imprisonment may be appropriate in
cases in which the defendant used
violence or credible threats of violence
or possessed a firearm or other
dangerous weapon in connection with
the offense].’’.
[Option 2:
Issues for Comment
(b) If the defendant is determined to
be a first offender under subsection (a),
decrease the offense level as follows:
1. Part A of the proposed amendment
provides two options for how to define
‘‘first offender’’ for purposes of applying
(A) First Offenders
Proposed Amendment
Chapter Four is amended by inserting
at the end the following new Part C:
PART C—FIRST OFFENDER
§ 4C1.1. First Offender
[Definition of ‘‘First Offender’’
[Option 1:
(a) A defendant is a first offender if
the defendant did not receive any
criminal history points from Chapter
Four, Part A.]
[Option 2:
(a) A defendant is a first offender if
the defendant has no prior convictions
of any kind.]]
[Decrease in Offense Level for First
Offenders
[Option 1:
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(1) if the offense level determined
under Chapters Two and Three is less
than level [16], decrease by [2] levels; or
(2) if the offense level determined
under Chapters Two and Three is level
[16] or greater, decrease by [1] level.]]
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the new § 4C1.1 (First Offender). Option
1 defines a defendant as a ‘‘first
offender’’ if the defendant did not
receive any criminal history points from
Chapter Four, Part A. Option 2 defines
a defendant as a ‘‘first offender’’ if the
defendant has no prior convictions of
any kind. The Commission seeks
comment on the proposed definition.
Should the Commission adopt a broader
definition than either Option 1 or
Option 2? Should the Commission
adopt a narrower definition than either
option? Should the Commission adopt a
definition that is narrower than Option
1 but broader than Option 2? For
example, should the Commission define
‘‘first offender’’ as a defendant who did
not receive any criminal history points
from Chapter Four, Part A and has no
prior felony convictions? Should the
Commission instead define ‘‘first
offender’’ as a defendant who either has
no prior convictions of any kind or has
only prior convictions that are not
counted under § 4A1.2 for a reason
other than being too remote in time?
Should the Commission provide
additional or different guidance for
determining whether a defendant is, or
is not, a first offender?
2. Part A of the proposed amendment
provides two options for the decrease in
offense level that would apply to a first
offender. One of the options, Option 1,
would provide that if the defendant is
determined to be a first offender (as
defined in the new guideline) a decrease
of [1] level from the offense level
determined under Chapters Two and
Three would apply. Should the
Commission limit the applicability of
the adjustment to defendants with an
offense level determined under Chapters
Two and Three that is less than a certain
number of levels? For example, should
the Commission provide that if the
offense level determined under Chapters
Two and Three is less than level [16],
the offense level shall be decreased by
[1] level? What other limitations or
requirements, if any, should the
Commission provide for such an
adjustment?
3. Part A of the proposed amendment
would amend § 5C1.1 (Imposition of a
Term of Imprisonment) to provide that
if the defendant is determined to be a
first offender under the new § 4C1.1
(First Offender), [the defendant’s instant
offense of conviction is not a crime of
violence][the defendant did not use
violence or credible threats of violence
or possess a firearm or other dangerous
weapon in connection with the offense],
and the guideline range applicable to
that defendant is in Zone A or Zone B
of the Sentencing Table, the court
ordinarily should impose a sentence
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other than a sentence of imprisonment
in accordance with the other sentencing
options. Should the Commission further
limit the application of such a
rebuttable ‘‘presumption’’ and exclude
certain categories of non-violent
offenses? If so, what offenses should be
excluded from the presumption of a
non-incarceration sentence? For
example, should the Commission
exclude public corruption, tax, and
other white-collar offenses?
4. If the Commission were to
promulgate Part A of the proposed
amendment, what conforming changes,
if any, should the Commission make to
other provisions of the Guidelines
Manual?
(B) Consolidation of Zones B and C in
the Sentencing Table
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Proposed Amendment
Chapter Five, Part A is amended in
the Sentencing Table by striking ‘‘Zone
C’’; by redesignating Zone B to contain
all guideline ranges having a minimum
of at least one month but not more than
twelve months; and by inserting below
‘‘Zone B’’ the following: ‘‘[Zone C
Deleted]’’.
The Commentary to the Sentencing
Table is amended by inserting at the end
the following:
‘‘Background: The Sentencing Table
previously provided four ‘zones,’
labeled A through D, based on the
minimum months of imprisonment in
each cell. The Commission expanded
Zone B by consolidating former Zones B
and C. Zone B in the Sentencing Table
now contains all guideline ranges
having a minimum term of
imprisonment of at least one but not
more than twelve months. Although
Zone C was deleted by its consolidation
with Zone B, the Commission decided
not to redesignate Zone D as Zone C, to
avoid unnecessary confusion that may
result from different meanings of ‘Zone
C’ and ‘Zone D’ through different
editions of the Guidelines Manual.’’.
The Commentary to § 5B1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 1(B), in the heading, by striking
‘‘nine months’’ and inserting ‘‘twelve
months’’; and in Note 2 by striking
‘‘Zone C or D’’ and inserting ‘‘Zone D’’,
and by striking ‘‘ten months’’ and
inserting ‘‘fifteen months’’.
Section 5C1.1 is amended—
in subsection (c) by striking
‘‘subsection (e)’’ both places such term
appears and inserting ‘‘subsection (d)’’;
by striking subsection (d) as follows:
‘‘(d) If the applicable guideline range
is in Zone C of the Sentencing Table, the
minimum term may be satisfied by—
(1) a sentence of imprisonment; or
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(2) a sentence of imprisonment that
includes a term of supervised release
with a condition that substitutes
community confinement or home
detention according to the schedule in
subsection (e), provided that at least
one-half of the minimum term is
satisfied by imprisonment.’’;
and by redesignating subsections (e)
and (f) as subsections (d) and (e),
respectively.
The Commentary to § 5C1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended—
in Note 3 by striking ‘‘nine months’’
and inserting ‘‘twelve months’’;
by striking Note 4 as follows:
‘‘4. Subsection (d) provides that
where the applicable guideline range is
in Zone C of the Sentencing Table (i.e.,
the minimum term specified in the
applicable guideline range is ten or
twelve months), the court has two
options:
(A) It may impose a sentence of
imprisonment.
(B) Or, it may impose a sentence of
imprisonment that includes a term of
supervised release with a condition
requiring community confinement or
home detention. In such case, at least
one-half of the minimum term specified
in the guideline range must be satisfied
by imprisonment, and the remainder of
the minimum term specified in the
guideline range must be satisfied by
community confinement or home
detention. For example, where the
guideline range is 10–16 months, a
sentence of five months imprisonment
followed by a term of supervised release
with a condition requiring five months
community confinement or home
detention would satisfy the minimum
term of imprisonment required by the
guideline range.
The preceding example illustrates a
sentence that satisfies the minimum
term of imprisonment required by the
guideline range. The court, of course,
may impose a sentence at a higher point
within the guideline range. For
example, where the guideline range is
10–16 months, both a sentence of five
months imprisonment followed by a
term of supervised release with a
condition requiring six months of
community confinement or home
detention (under subsection (d)), and a
sentence of ten months imprisonment
followed by a term of supervised release
with a condition requiring four months
of community confinement or home
detention (also under subsection (d))
would be within the guideline range.’’;
by striking Note 6 as follows:
‘‘6. There may be cases in which a
departure from the sentencing options
authorized for Zone C of the Sentencing
Table (under which at least half the
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minimum term must be satisfied by
imprisonment) to the sentencing options
authorized for Zone B of the Sentencing
Table (under which all or most of the
minimum term may be satisfied by
intermittent confinement, community
confinement, or home detention instead
of imprisonment) is appropriate to
accomplish a specific treatment
purpose. Such a departure should be
considered only in cases where the
court finds that (A) the defendant is an
abuser of narcotics, other controlled
substances, or alcohol, or suffers from a
significant mental illness, and (B) the
defendant’s criminality is related to the
treatment problem to be addressed.
In determining whether such a
departure is appropriate, the court
should consider, among other things, (1)
the likelihood that completion of the
treatment program will successfully
address the treatment problem, thereby
reducing the risk to the public from
further crimes of the defendant, and (2)
whether imposition of less
imprisonment than required by Zone C
will increase the risk to the public from
further crimes of the defendant.
Examples: The following examples
both assume the applicable guideline
range is 12–18 months and the court
departs in accordance with this
application note. Under Zone C rules,
the defendant must be sentenced to at
least six months imprisonment. (1) The
defendant is a nonviolent drug offender
in Criminal History Category I and
probation is not prohibited by statute.
The court departs downward to impose
a sentence of probation, with twelve
months of intermittent confinement,
community confinement, or home
detention and participation in a
substance abuse treatment program as
conditions of probation. (2) The
defendant is convicted of a Class A or
B felony, so probation is prohibited by
statute (see § 5B1.1(b)). The court
departs downward to impose a sentence
of one month imprisonment, with
eleven months in community
confinement or home detention and
participation in a substance abuse
treatment program as conditions of
supervised release.’’;
by redesignating Notes 5, 7, 8, and 9
as Notes 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively;
in Note 4 (as so redesignated) by
striking ‘‘Subsection (e)’’ and inserting
‘‘Subsection (d)’’;
in Note 5 (as so redesignated) by
striking ‘‘subsections (c) and (d)’’ and
inserting ‘‘subsection (c)’’;
and in Note 7 (as so redesignated) by
striking ‘‘Subsection (f)’’ and inserting
‘‘Subsection (e)’’, and by striking
‘‘subsection (e)’’ and inserting
‘‘subsection (d)’’.
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The Commentary to § 5F1.2 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 1 by striking ‘‘Electronic
monitoring is an appropriate means of
surveillance and ordinarily should be
used in connection with home
detention’’ and inserting ‘‘Electronic
monitoring is an appropriate means of
surveillance for home detention’’; and
by striking ‘‘may be used so long as they
are as effective as electronic
monitoring’’ and inserting ‘‘may be used
if appropriate’’.
The Commentary to § 5F1.2 captioned
‘‘Background’’ is amended by striking
‘‘The Commission has concluded that
the surveillance necessary for effective
use of home detention ordinarily
requires electronic monitoring’’ and
inserting ‘‘The Commission has
concluded that electronic monitoring is
an appropriate means of surveillance for
home detention’’; and by striking ‘‘the
court should be confident that an
alternative form of surveillance will be
equally effective’’ and inserting ‘‘the
court should be confident that an
alternative form of surveillance is
appropriate considering the facts and
circumstances of the defendant’s case’’.
Issues for Comment
1. The Commission requests comment
on whether the zone changes
contemplated by Part B of the proposed
amendment should apply to all offenses,
or only to certain categories of offenses.
The zone changes would increase the
number of offenders who are eligible
under the guidelines to receive a nonincarceration sentence. Should the
Commission provide a mechanism to
exempt certain offenses from these zone
changes? For example, should the
Commission provide a mechanism to
exempt public corruption, tax, and other
white-collar offenses from these zone
changes (e.g., to reflect a view that it
would not be appropriate to increase the
number of public corruption, tax, and
other white-collar offenders who are
eligible to receive a non-incarceration
sentence)? If so, what mechanism
should the Commission provide, and
what offenses should be covered by it?
2. The proposed amendment would
consolidate Zones B and C to create an
expanded Zone B. Such an adjustment
would provide probation with
conditions of confinement as a
sentencing option for current Zone C
defendants, an option that was not
available to such defendants before. The
Commission seeks comment on whether
the Commission should provide
additional guidance to address these
new Zone B defendants. If so, what
guidance should the Commission
provide?
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4. Acceptance of Responsibility
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
This proposed amendment is the result
of the Commission’s consideration of
miscellaneous guideline application
issues, including whether a defendant’s
denial of relevant conduct should be
considered in determining whether the
defendant has accepted responsibility
for purposes of § 3E1.1. See U.S.
Sentencing Comm’n, ‘‘Notice of Final
Priorities,’’ 82 FR 39949 (Aug. 22, 2017).
Section 3E1.1 (Acceptance of
Responsibility) provides for a 2-level
reduction for a defendant who clearly
demonstrates acceptance of
responsibility. Application Note 1(A) of
§ 3E1.1 provides as one of the
appropriate considerations in
determining whether a defendant
‘‘clearly demonstrate[d] acceptance of
responsibility’’ the following:
truthfully admitting the conduct comprising
the offense(s) of conviction, and truthfully
admitting or not falsely denying any
additional relevant conduct for which the
defendant is accountable under § 1B1.3
(Relevant Conduct). Note that a defendant is
not required to volunteer, or affirmatively
admit, relevant conduct beyond the offense
of conviction in order to obtain a reduction
under subsection (a). A defendant may
remain silent in respect to relevant conduct
beyond the offense of conviction without
affecting his ability to obtain a reduction
under this subsection. However, a defendant
who falsely denies, or frivolously contests,
relevant conduct that the court determines to
be true has acted in a manner inconsistent
with acceptance of responsibility;
In addition, Application Note 3
provides further guidance on evidence
that might demonstrate acceptance of
responsibility, as follows:
Entry of a plea of guilty prior to the
commencement of trial combined with
truthfully admitting the conduct comprising
the offense of conviction, and truthfully
admitting or not falsely denying any
additional relevant conduct for which he is
accountable under § 1B1.3 (Relevant
Conduct) (see Application Note 1(A)), will
constitute significant evidence of acceptance
of responsibility for the purposes of
subsection (a). However, this evidence may
be outweighed by conduct of the defendant
that is inconsistent with such acceptance of
responsibility. A defendant who enters a
guilty plea is not entitled to an adjustment
under this section as a matter of right.
The Commission has heard concerns
that the Commentary to § 3E1.1
(particularly the provisions cited above)
encourages courts to deny a reduction in
sentence when a defendant pleads
guilty and accepts responsibility for the
offense of conviction, but
unsuccessfully challenges the
presentence report’s assessments of
relevant conduct. These commenters
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suggest this has a chilling effect because
defendants are concerned such
objections may jeopardize their
eligibility for a reduction for acceptance
of responsibility.
The proposed amendment amends the
Commentary to § 3E1.1 to revise how a
defendant’s challenge to relevant
conduct should be considered in
determining whether the defendant has
accepted responsibility for purposes of
the guideline. Specifically, the proposed
amendment would revise Application
Note 1(A) by substituting a new
sentence for the sentence that states ‘‘a
defendant who falsely denies, or
frivolously contests, relevant conduct
that the court determines to be true has
acted in a manner inconsistent with
acceptance of responsibility.’’ The
proposed amendment includes two
options for the substitute.
Option 1 would provide that ‘‘a
defendant may make a non-frivolous
challenge to relevant conduct without
affecting his ability to obtain a
reduction.’’
Option 2 would provide that ‘‘a
defendant may make a challenge to
relevant conduct without affecting his
ability to obtain a reduction, unless the
challenge lacks an arguable basis either
in law or in fact.’’
An issue for comment is also
provided.
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to § 3E1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 1(A) by striking ‘‘However, a
defendant who falsely denies, or
frivolously contests, relevant conduct
that the court determines to be true has
acted in a manner inconsistent with
acceptance of responsibility’’, and
inserting the following:
[Option 1:
‘‘In addition, a defendant may make a
non-frivolous challenge to relevant
conduct without affecting his ability to
obtain a reduction’’.]
[Option 2:
‘‘In addition, a defendant may make a
challenge to relevant conduct without
affecting his ability to obtain a
reduction, unless the challenge lacks an
arguable basis either in law or in fact’’.]
Issue for Comment
1. The Commission seeks comment on
whether the Commission should amend
the Commentary to § 3E1.1 (Acceptance
of Responsibility) to change or clarify
how a defendant’s challenge to relevant
conduct should be considered in
determining whether a defendant has
accepted responsibility for purposes of
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§ 3E1.1. If so, what changes should the
Commission make to § 3E1.1?
One of the options included in the
proposed amendment, Option 1, would
provide that ‘‘a defendant may make a
non-frivolous challenge to relevant
conduct without affecting his ability to
obtain a reduction’’ under § 3E1.1(a). If
the Commission were to adopt Option 1,
what additional guidance, if any, should
the Commission provide on the meaning
of ‘‘non-frivolous’’? The second option
included in the proposed amendment,
Option 2, would provide that ‘‘a
defendant may make a challenge to
relevant conduct without affecting his
ability to obtain a reduction, unless the
challenge lacks an arguable basis either
in law or in fact.’’ If the Commission
were to adopt Option 2, should the
Commission provide additional
guidance on when a challenge ‘‘lacks an
arguable basis either in law or in fact’’?
For example, should the Commission
state explicitly that the fact that a
challenge is unsuccessful does not by
itself establish that the challenge lacked
an arguable basis either in law or in
fact? If the Commission were to adopt
either Option 1 or Option 2, should the
challenges covered by the amendment
include informal challenges to relevant
conduct during the sentencing process,
whether or not the issues challenged are
determinative to the applicable
guideline range? Should the
Commission broaden the proposed
provision to address other sentencing
considerations, such as departures or
variances? Should the Commission,
instead of adopting either option in the
proposed amendment, remove from
§ 3E1.1 all references to relevant
conduct for which the defendant is
accountable under § 1B1.3, and
reference only the elements of the
offense of conviction?
5. Miscellaneous
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
This proposed amendment responds to
recently enacted legislation and
miscellaneous guideline issues.
The proposed amendment contains
five parts (Parts A through E). The
Commission is considering whether to
promulgate any or all of these parts, as
they are not mutually exclusive. They
are as follows—
Part A responds to the Transnational
Drug Trafficking Act of 2015, Public
Law 114–154 (May 16, 2016), by
amending § 2B5.3 (Criminal
Infringement of Copyright or
Trademark).
Part B responds to the International
Megan’s Law to Prevent Child
Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes
Through Advanced Notification of
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Traveling Sex Offenders Act, Public
Law 114–119 (Feb. 8, 2016), by
amending § 2A3.5 (Failure to Register as
a Sex Offender), § 2A3.6 (Aggravated
Offenses Relating to Registration as a
Sex Offender), and Appendix A
(Statutory Index).
Part C responds to the Frank R.
Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st
Century Act, Public Law 114–182 (June
22, 2016), by amending Appendix A
(Statutory Index).
Part D amends § 2G1.3 (Promoting a
Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited
Sexual Conduct with a Minor;
Transportation of Minors to Engage in a
Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited
Sexual Conduct; Travel to Engage in
Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited
Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sex
Trafficking of Children; Use of Interstate
Facilities to Transport Information
about a Minor) to clarify how the use of
a computer enhancement at subsection
(b)(3) interacts with its correlating
commentary.
Part E responds to the Justice for All
Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law
114–324 (Dec. 16, 2016), by amending
§ 5D1.3 (Conditions of Supervised
Release).
(A) Transnational Drug Trafficking Act
of 2015
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
Part A of the proposed amendment
responds to the Transnational Drug
Trafficking Act of 2015, Public Law
114–154 (May 16, 2016). The primary
purpose of the Act is to enable the
Department of Justice to target
extraterritorial drug trafficking activity.
Among other things, the Act clarified
the mens rea requirement for offenses
related to trafficking in counterfeit
drugs, without changing the statutory
penalties associated with such offenses.
The Act amended 18 U.S.C. 2230
(Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or
Services), which prohibits trafficking in
a range of goods and services, including
counterfeit drugs. The amended statute
is currently referenced in Appendix A
(Statutory Index) of the Guidelines
Manual to § 2B5.3 (Criminal
Infringement of Copyright or
Trademark).
In particular, the Act made changes
relating to counterfeit drugs. First, the
Act amended the penalty provision at
section 2320, replacing the term
‘‘counterfeit drug’’ with the phrase
‘‘drug that uses a counterfeit mark on or
in connection with the drug.’’ Second,
the Act revised section 2320(f)(6) to
define only the term ‘‘drug’’ instead of
‘‘counterfeit drug.’’ The amended
provision defines ‘‘drug’’ as ‘‘a drug, as
defined in section 201 of the Federal
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Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.
321).’’ The Act did not amend the
definition of ‘‘counterfeit mark’’
contained in section 2230(f)(1), which
provides that—
the term ‘‘counterfeit mark’’ means—
(A) a spurious mark—
(i) that is used in connection with
trafficking in any goods, services, labels,
patches, stickers, wrappers, badges, emblems,
medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans,
cases, hangtags, documentation, or packaging
of any type or nature;
(ii) that is identical with, or substantially
indistinguishable from, a mark registered on
the principal register in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and in use,
whether or not the defendant knew such
mark was so registered;
(iii) that is applied to or used in connection
with the goods or services for which the mark
is registered with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office, or is applied to or
consists of a label, patch, sticker, wrapper,
badge, emblem, medallion, charm, box,
container, can, case, hangtag, documentation,
or packaging of any type or nature that is
designed, marketed, or otherwise intended to
be used on or in connection with the goods
or services for which the mark is registered
in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office; and
(iv) the use of which is likely to cause
confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive; or
(B) a spurious designation that is identical
with, or substantially indistinguishable from,
a designation as to which the remedies of the
Lanham Act are made available by reason of
section 220506 of title 36 . . . .
Part A of the proposed amendment
amends § 2B5.3(b)(5) to replace the term
‘‘counterfeit drug’’ with ‘‘drug that uses
a counterfeit mark on or in connection
with the drug.’’ The proposed
amendment would also amend the
Commentary to § 2B5.3 to delete the
‘‘counterfeit drug’’ definition and
provide that ‘‘drug’’ and ‘‘counterfeit
mark’’ have the meaning given those
terms in 18 U.S.C. 2320(f).
Proposed Amendment
Section 2B5.3(b)(5) is amended by
striking ‘‘counterfeit drug’’ and inserting
‘‘drug that uses a counterfeit mark on or
in connection with the drug’’.
The Commentary to § 2B5.3 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 1 by striking the third
undesignated paragraph as follows:
‘‘ ‘Counterfeit drug’ has the meaning
given that term in 18 U.S.C. 2320(f)(6).’’,
and by inserting after the paragraph
that begins ‘‘‘Counterfeit military good
or service’ has the meaning’’ the
following new paragraph:
‘‘ ‘Drug’ and ‘counterfeit mark’ have
the meaning given those terms in 18
U.S.C. 2320(f).’’.
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(B) International Megan’s Law To
Prevent Child Exploitation and Other
Sexual Crimes Through Advanced
Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
Part B of the proposed amendment
responds to the International Megan’s
Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and
Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced
Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders
Act (‘‘International Megan’s Law’’),
Public Law 114–119 (Feb. 8, 2016). The
Act added a new notification
requirement to 42 U.S.C. 16914
(Information required in [sex offender]
registration). Section 16914 states that
sex offenders who are required to
register under the Sex Offender
Registration and Notification Act
(SORNA) must provide certain
information for inclusion in the sex
offender registry. Those provisions
include the offender’s name, Social
Security number, address of all
residences, name and address where the
offender is an employee, the name and
address where the offender is a student,
license plate number and description of
any vehicle. The International Megan’s
Law added as an additional requirement
that the sex offender must provide
‘‘information relating to intended travel
of the sex offender outside of the United
States, including any anticipated dates
and places of departure, arrival or
return, carrier and flight numbers for air
travel, destination country and address
or other contact information therein,
means and purpose of travel, and any
other itinerary or other travel-related
information required by the Attorney
General.’’
The International Megan’s Law also
added a new criminal offense at 18
U.S.C. 2250(b) (Failure to register). The
new subsection (b) provides that
whoever is required to register under
SORNA who knowingly fails to provide
the above described information
required by SORNA relating to intended
travel in foreign commerce and who
engages or attempts to engage in the
intended travel, is subject to a 10-year
statutory maximum penalty. Section
2250 offenses are referenced in
Appendix A (Statutory Index) to § 2A3.5
(Failure to Register as a Sex Offender).
Part B of the proposed amendment
amends Appendix A (Statutory Index)
so the new offenses at 18 U.S.C. 2250(b)
are referenced to § 2A3.5. The proposed
amendment also brackets the possibility
of adding a new application note to the
Commentary to § 2A3.5 providing that
for purposes of § 2A3.5(b), a defendant
shall be deemed to be in a ‘‘failure to
register status’’ during the period in
which the defendant engaged in
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conduct described in 18 U.S.C. 2250(a)
or (b).
Finally, Part B makes clerical changes
to § 2A3.6 (Aggravated Offenses Relating
to Registration as a Sex Offender) to
reflect the redesignation of 18 U.S.C.
2250(c) by the International Megan’s
Law.
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to § 2A3.5 captioned
‘‘Statutory Provision’’ is amended by
striking ‘‘§ 2250(a)’’ and inserting
‘‘§ 2250(a), (b)’’.
[The Commentary to § 2A3.5
captioned ‘‘Application Notes’’ is
amended by redesignating Note 2 as
Note 3, and by inserting the following
new Note 2:
‘‘2. Application of Subsection (b)(1).—
For purposes of subsection (b)(1), a
defendant shall be deemed to be in a
‘failure to register status’ during the
period in which the defendant engaged
in conduct described in 18 U.S.C.
2250(a) or (b).’’.]
Section 2A3.6(a) is amended by
striking ‘‘§ 2250(c)’’ and inserting
‘‘§ 2250(d)’’.
The Commentary to § 2A3.6 captioned
‘‘Statutory Provisions’’ is amended by
striking ‘‘2250(c)’’ and inserting
‘‘2250(d)’’.
The Commentary to § 2A3.6 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended—
in Note 1 by striking ‘‘Section
2250(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘Section
2250(d)’’, and by inserting after ‘‘18
U.S.C. 2250(a)’’ the following: ‘‘or (b)’’;
in Note 3 by striking ‘‘§ 2250(c)’’ and
inserting ‘‘§ 2250(d)’’;
and in Note 4 by striking ‘‘§ 2250(c)’’
and inserting ‘‘§ 2250(d)’’.
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is
amended in the line referenced to 18
U.S.C. 2250(a) by striking ‘‘§ 2250(a)’’
and inserting ‘‘§ 2250(a), (b)’’; and in the
line referenced to 18 U.S.C. 2250(c) by
striking ‘‘§ 2250(c)’’ and inserting
‘‘§ 2250(d)’’.
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$250,000, imprisonment of up to 15
years, or both.
Part C of the proposed amendment
amends Appendix A (Statutory Index)
so that the new provision, 15 U.S.C.
2615(b)(2), is referenced to § 2Q1.1
(Knowing Endangerment Resulting
From Mishandling Hazardous or Toxic
Substances, Pesticides or Other
Pollutants), while maintaining the
reference to § 2Q1.2 (Mishandling of
Hazardous or Toxic Substances or
Pesticides; Recordkeeping, Tampering,
and Falsification; Unlawfully
Transporting Hazardous Materials in
Commerce) for 15 U.S.C. 2615(b)(1).
Proposed Amendment
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is
amended—
in the line referenced to 15 U.S.C.
2615 by striking ‘‘§ 2615’’ and inserting
‘‘§ 2615(b)(1)’’;
and by inserting before the line
referenced to 15 U.S.C. 6821 the
following new line reference:
‘‘15 U.S.C. 2615(b)(2) 2Q1.1’’.
(D) Use of a Computer Enhancement in
§ 2G1.3
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
Part D of the proposed amendment
clarifies how the use of a computer
enhancement at § 2G1.3(b)(3) interacts
with its corresponding commentary at
Application Note 4. Section 2G1.3
(Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a
Minor; Transportation of Minors to
Engage in a Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct; Travel to
Engage in Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a
Minor; Sex Trafficking of Children; Use
of Interstate Facilities to Transport
Information about a Minor) applies to
several offenses involving the
transportation of a minor for illegal
sexual activity. Subsection (b)(3) of
§ 2G1.3 provides a 2-level enhancement
(C) Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety if—
for the 21st Century Act
the offense involved the use of a computer
or an interactive computer service to (A)
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
persuade, induce, entice, coerce, or facilitate
Part C of the proposed amendment
the travel of, the minor to engage in
responds to the Frank R. Lautenberg
prohibited sexual conduct; or (B) entice,
Chemical Safety for the 21st Century
encourage, offer, or solicit a person to engage
Act, Public Law 114–182 (June 22,
in prohibited sexual conduct with the minor.
2016). The Act, among other things,
Application Note 4 to § 2G1.3 sets
amended section 16 of the Toxic
forth guidance on this enhancement
Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2615) providing as follows:
to add a new subsection that provides
Subsection (b)(3) is intended to apply only
that any person who knowingly and
to the use of a computer or an interactive
willfully violates certain provisions of
computer service to communicate directly
the Toxic Substances Control Act and
with a minor or with a person who exercises
who knows at the time of the violation
custody, care, or supervisory control of the
that the violation places an individual
minor. Accordingly, the enhancement in
in imminent danger of death or bodily
subsection (b)(3) would not apply to the use
injury shall be subject to a fine up to
of a computer or an interactive computer
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service to obtain airline tickets for the minor
from an airline’s Internet site.
such term appears and inserting
‘‘(b)(3)(A)’’.
An application issue has arisen as to
whether Application Note 4, by failing
to distinguish between the two prongs
of subsection (b)(3), prohibits
application of the enhancement where a
computer was used to solicit a third
party to engage in prohibited sexual
conduct with a minor.
Most courts to have addressed this
issue have concluded that Application
Note 4 is inconsistent with the language
of § 2G1.3(b)(3), and have permitted the
application of the enhancement for use
of a computer in third party solicitation
cases. See, e.g., United States v. Cramer,
777 F.3d 597, 606 (2d Cir. 2015) (‘‘We
conclude that Application Note 4 is
plainly inconsistent with subsection
(b)(3)(B) . . . . The plain language of
subsection (b)(3)(B) is clear, and there is
no indication that the drafters of the
Guidelines intended to limit this plain
language through Application Note 4.’’);
United States v. McMillian, 777 F.3d
444, 449–50 (7th Cir. 2015) (‘‘[The
defendant] points out that Application
Note 4 states that ‘Subsection (b)(3) is
intended to apply only to the use of a
computer or an interactive computer
service to communicate directly with a
minor or with a person who exercises
custody, care, or supervisory control of
the minor.[’] . . . . But the note is
wrong. The guideline section provides a
2-level enhancement whenever the
defendant uses a computer to ‘entice,
encourage, offer, or solicit a person to
engage in prohibited sexual conduct
with the minor’ . . . . When an
application note clashes with the
guideline, the guideline prevails.’’);
United States v. Hill, 783 F.3d 842, 846
(11th Cir. 2015) (‘‘Because the
application note is inconsistent with the
plain language of U.S.S.G.
§ 2G1.3(b)(3)(B), the plain language of
the guideline controls.’’); United States
v. Pringler, 765 F.3d 445, 455 (5th Cir.
2014) (‘‘[W]e hold that the commentary
in application note 4 is ‘inconsistent
with’ Guideline § 2G1.3(b)(3)(B), and we
therefore follow the plain language of
the Guideline alone.’’).
Part D of the proposed amendment
would amend the Commentary to
§ 2G1.3 to clarify that the guidance
contained in Application Note 4 refers
only to subsection (b)(3)(A) and does
not control the application of the
enhancement for use of a computer in
third party solicitation cases (as
provided in subsection (b)(3)(B)).
(E) Justice for All Reauthorization Act of
2016
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
Part E of the proposed amendment
responds to the Justice for All
Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law
114–324 (Dec. 16, 2016). The Act made
statutory changes to protect the rights of
crime victims and to address the use of
DNA and other forensic evidence.
Among other things, the Act amended
18 U.S.C. 3583, the statute addressing
supervised release. Section 3583(d)
requires a court, when imposing a
sentence of supervised release, to
impose certain specified conditions of
supervised release. The Act amended
section 3583(d) to require the court to
include, as one of those conditions,
‘‘that the defendant make restitution in
accordance with sections 3663 and
3663A [of Title 18, United States Code],
or any other statute authorizing a
sentence of restitution.’’
Part E of the proposed amendment
amends the ‘‘mandatory’’ condition of
supervised release set forth in
subsection (a)(6)(A) of § 5D1.3
(Conditions of Supervised Release). It
conforms § 5D1.3(a)(6)(A) to section
3583(d) as amended by the Justice for
All Reauthorization Act.
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to § 2G1.3 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 4 by striking ‘‘(b)(3)’’ each place
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Proposed Amendment
Section 5D1.3(a)(6)(A) is amended by
striking ‘‘18 U.S.C. 2248, 2259, 2264,
2327, 3663, 3663A, and 3664’’ and
inserting ‘‘18 U.S.C. 3663 and 3663A, or
any other statute authorizing a sentence
of restitution’’.
6. Marihuana Equivalency
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment:
This proposed amendment makes
technical changes to § 2D1.1 (Unlawful
Manufacturing, Importing, Exporting, or
Trafficking (Including Possession with
Intent to Commit These Offenses);
Attempt or Conspiracy) to replace the
term ‘‘marihuana equivalency’’ which is
used in the Drug Equivalency Tables
when determining penalties for certain
controlled substances.
The Commentary to § 2D1.1 sets forth
a series of Drug Equivalency Tables.
These tables provide a conversion factor
termed ‘‘marihuana equivalency’’ for
certain controlled substances that is
used to determine the offense level for
cases in which the controlled substance
involved in the offense is not
specifically listed in the Drug Quantity
Table, or where there is more than one
controlled substance involved in the
offense (whether or not listed in the
Drug Quantity Table). See § 2D1.1,
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comment. (n.8). The Drug Equivalency
Tables are separated by drug type and
schedule.
In a case involving a controlled
substance that is not specifically
referenced in the Drug Quantity Table,
the base offense level is determined by
using the Drug Equivalency Tables to
convert the quantity of the controlled
substance involved in the offense to its
marihuana equivalency, then finding
the offense level in the Drug Quantity
Table that corresponds to that quantity
of marihuana. In a case involving more
than one controlled substance, each of
the drugs is converted into its
marihuana equivalency, the converted
quantities are added, and the aggregate
quantity is used to find the offense level
in the Drug Quantity Table.
The Commission received comment
expressing concern that the term
‘‘marihuana equivalency’’ is misleading
and results in confusion for individuals
not fully versed in the guidelines. In
particular, some commenters suggested
that the Commission should replace
‘‘marihuana equivalency’’ with another
term.
The proposed amendment would
amend § 2D1.1 to replace ‘‘marihuana
equivalency’’ as the conversion factor
for determining penalties for controlled
substances that are not specifically
referenced in the Drug Quantity Table or
when combining differing controlled
substances, with a new value termed
‘‘converted drug weight.’’ Specifically,
the proposed amendment would add the
new conversion factor to all provisions
of the Drug Quantity Table at § 2D1.1(c).
In addition, the proposed amendment
would change the title of the ‘‘Drug
Equivalency Tables’’ to ‘‘Drug
Conversion Tables,’’ and revise the
commentary to § 2D1.1 to change all
references to marihuana as a conversion
factor and replace it with the new value.
All changes set forth in the proposed
amendment are not intended as a
substantive change in policy for § 2D1.1.
Proposed Amendment
Section 2D1.1(c)(1) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• 90,000 KG or more of Converted
Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(2) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 30,000 KG but less than
90,000 KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(3) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
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referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 10,000 KG but less than
30,000 KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(4) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 3,000 KG but less than
10,000 KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(5) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 1,000 KG but less than
3,000 KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(6) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 700 KG but less than 1,000
KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(7) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 400 KG but less than 700
KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(8) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 100 KG but less than 400
KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(9) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 80 KG but less than 100
KG of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(10) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 60 KG but less than 80 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(11) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 40 KG but less than 60 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(12) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 20 KG but less than 40 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(13) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
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referenced to Flunitrazepam and
inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘• At least 10 KG but less than 20 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(14) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Schedule IV substances
(except Flunitrazepam) and inserting a
semicolon, and by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘• At least 5 KG but less than 10 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(15) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Schedule IV substances
(except Flunitrazepam) and inserting a
semicolon, and by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘• At least 2.5 KG but less than 5 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(16) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Schedule V substances
and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
‘‘• At least 1 KG but less than 2.5 KG
of Converted Drug Weight.’’.
Section 2D1.1(c)(17) is amended by
striking the period at the end of the line
referenced to Schedule V substances
and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
‘‘• Less than 1 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.’’.
The annotation to § 2D1.1(c)
captioned ‘‘Notes to Drug Quantity
Table’’ is amended by inserting at the
end the following new Note (J):
‘‘(J) The term ‘Converted Drug
Weight,’ for purposes of this guideline,
refers to a nominal reference
designation that is to be used as a
conversion factor in the Drug
Conversion Tables set forth in the
Commentary below, to determine the
offense level for controlled substances
that are not specifically referenced in
the Drug Quantity Table or when
combining differing controlled
substances.’’.
The Commentary to § 2D1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended—
in Note 6 by striking ‘‘marihuana
equivalency’’ and inserting ‘‘converted
drug weight’’ and by inserting after ‘‘the
most closely related controlled
substance referenced in this guideline.’’
the following: ‘‘See Application Note
8.’’;
in the heading of Note 8 by striking
‘‘Drug Equivalency’’ and inserting ‘‘Drug
Conversion’’;
in Note 8(A) by striking ‘‘Drug
Equivalency Tables’’ both places such
term appears and inserting ‘‘Drug
Conversion Tables’’; by striking ‘‘to
convert the quantity of the controlled
substance involved in the offense to its
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equivalent quantity of marihuana’’ and
inserting ‘‘to find the converted drug
weight of the controlled substance
involved in the offense’’; by striking
‘‘Find the equivalent quantity of
marihuana’’ and inserting ‘‘Find the
corresponding converted drug weight’’;
by striking ‘‘Use the offense level that
corresponds to the equivalent quantity
of marihuana’’ and inserting ‘‘Use the
offense level that corresponds to the
converted drug weight determined
above’’; by striking ‘‘an equivalent
quantity of 5 kilograms of marihuana’’
and inserting ‘‘5 kilogram of converted
drug weight’’; and by striking ‘‘the
equivalent quantity of marihuana would
be 500 kilograms’’ and inserting ‘‘the
converted drug weight would be 500
kilograms’’;
in Note 8(B) by striking ‘‘Drug
Equivalency Tables’’ each place such
term appears and inserting ‘‘Drug
Conversion Tables’’; by striking
‘‘convert each of the drugs to its
marihuana equivalent’’ and inserting
‘‘convert each of the drugs to its
converted drug weight’’; by striking
‘‘For certain types of controlled
substances, the marihuana
equivalencies’’ and inserting ‘‘For
certain types of controlled substances,
the converted drug weights assigned’’;
by striking ‘‘e.g., the combined
equivalent weight of all Schedule V
controlled substances shall not exceed
2.49 kilograms of marihuana’’ and
inserting ‘‘e.g., the combined converted
weight of all Schedule V controlled
substances shall not exceed 2.49
kilograms of converted drug weight’’; by
striking ‘‘determine the marihuana
equivalency for each schedule
separately’’ and inserting ‘‘determine
the converted drug weight for each
schedule separately’’; and by striking
‘‘Then add the marihuana equivalencies
to determine the combined marihuana
equivalency’’ and inserting ‘‘Then add
the converted drug weights to determine
the combined converted drug weight’’;
in Note 8(C)(i) by striking ‘‘of
marihuana’’ each place such term
appears and inserting ‘‘of converted
drug weight’’; and by striking ‘‘The total
is therefore equivalent to 95 kilograms’’
and inserting ‘‘The total therefore
converts to 95 kilograms’’;
in Note 8(C)(ii) by striking the
following:
‘‘The defendant is convicted of selling
500 grams of marihuana (Level 6) and
10,000 units of diazepam (Level 6). The
diazepam, a Schedule IV drug, is
equivalent to 625 grams of marihuana.
The total, 1.125 kilograms of marihuana,
has an offense level of 8 in the Drug
Quantity Table.’’,
and inserting the following:
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‘‘The defendant is convicted of selling
500 grams of marihuana (Level 6) and
10,000 units of diazepam (Level 6). The
amount of marihuana converts to 500
grams of converted drug weight. The
diazepam, a Schedule IV drug, converts
to 625 grams of converted drug weight.
The total, 1.125 kilograms of converted
drug weight, has an offense level of 8 in
the Drug Quantity Table.’’;
in Note 8(C)(iii) by striking ‘‘is
equivalent’’ both places such term
appears and inserting ‘‘converts’’; by
striking ‘‘of marihuana’’ each place such
term appears and inserting ‘‘of
converted drug weight’’; and by striking
‘‘The total is therefore equivalent’’ and
inserting ‘‘The total therefore converts’’;
in Note 8(C)(iv) by striking
‘‘marihuana equivalency’’ each place
such term appears and inserting
‘‘converted drug weight’’; by striking
‘‘76 kilograms of marihuana’’ and
inserting ‘‘76 kilograms’’; by striking
‘‘79.99 kilograms of marihuana’’ both
places such term appears and inserting
‘‘79.99 kilograms of converted drug
weight’’; by striking ‘‘equivalent
weight’’ each place such term appears
and inserting ‘‘converted weight’’; by
striking ‘‘9.99 kilograms of marihuana’’
and inserting ‘‘9.99 kilograms’’; and by
striking ‘‘2.49 kilograms of marihuana’’
and inserting ‘‘2.49 kilograms’’;
and in Note 8(D)—
in the heading, by striking ‘‘Drug
Equivalency’’ and inserting ‘‘Drug
Conversion’’;
under the heading relating to
Schedule I or II Opiates, by striking the
heading as follows:
‘‘Schedule I or II Opiates*’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Schedule I or II
Opiates*.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
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and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’ each
place such term appears;
under the heading relating Cocaine
and Other Schedule I and II Stimulants
(and their immediate precursors), by
striking the heading as follows:
‘‘Cocaine and Other Schedule I and II
Stimulants (and their immediate
precursors)*’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Cocaine and Other
Schedule I and II
Stimulants (and
their immediate
precursors)*.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’ each
place such term appears;
under the heading relating to LSD,
PCP, and Other Schedule I and II
Hallucinogens (and their immediate
precursors), by striking the heading as
follows:
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‘‘LSD, PCP, and Other Schedule I and
II Hallucinogens (and their immediate
precursors)*’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘LSD, PCP, and
Other Schedule I
and II
Hallucinogens
(and their immediate precursors)*.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’ each
place such term appears;
under the heading relating to
Schedule I Marihuana, by striking the
heading as follows:
‘‘Schedule I Marihuana’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Schedule I Marihuana.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’ each
place such term appears;
under the heading relating to
Flunitrazepam, by striking the heading
as follows:
‘‘Flunitrazepam**’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Flunitrazepam** ....
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’;
under the heading relating to
Schedule I or II Depressants (except
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), by
striking the heading as follows:
‘‘Schedule I or II Depressants (except
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid)’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Schedule I or II Depressants (except
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid).
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’;
under the heading relating to Gammahydroxybutyric Acid, by striking the
heading as follows:
‘‘Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’;
under the heading relating to
Schedule III Substances (except
ketamine), by striking the heading as
follows:
‘‘Schedule III Substances (except
ketamine)***’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Schedule III Substances (except
ketamine)***.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
by striking ‘‘1 gm of marihuana’’ and
inserting ‘‘1 gm’’; by striking
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‘‘equivalent weight’’ and inserting
‘‘converted weight’’; and by striking
‘‘79.99 kilograms of marihuana’’ and
inserting ‘‘79.99 kilograms of converted
drug weight’’;
under the heading relating to
Ketamine, by striking the heading as
follows:
‘‘Ketamine’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Ketamine .................
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’;
under the heading relating to
Schedule IV Substances (except
flunitrazepam), by striking the heading
as follows:
‘‘Schedule IV Substances (except
flunitrazepam)*****’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Schedule IV Substances (except
flunitrazepam)
*****.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
by striking ‘‘0.0625 gm of marihuana’’
and inserting ‘‘0.0625 gm’’; by striking
‘‘equivalent weight’’ and inserting
‘‘converted weight’’; and by striking
‘‘9.99 kilograms of marihuana’’ and
inserting ‘‘9.99 kilograms of converted
drug weight’’;
under the heading relating to
Schedule V Substances, by striking the
heading as follows:
‘‘Schedule V Substances******’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Schedule V Substances******.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
by striking ‘‘0.00625 gm of
marihuana’’ and inserting ‘‘0.00625
gm’’; by striking ‘‘equivalent weight’’
and inserting ‘‘converted weight’’; and
by striking ‘‘2.49 kilograms of
marihuana’’ and inserting ‘‘2.49
kilograms of converted drug weight’’;
under the heading relating to List I
Chemicals (relating to the manufacture
of amphetamine or methamphetamine),
by striking the heading as follows:
‘‘List I Chemicals (relating to the
manufacture of amphetamine or
methamphetamine)*******’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘List I Chemicals (relating to the manufacture of amphetamine or methamphetamine)*******.
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
and by striking ‘‘of marihuana’’ each
place such term appears;
under the heading relating to Date
Rape Drugs (except flunitrazepam, GHB,
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or ketamine), by striking the heading as
follows:
‘‘Date Rape Drugs (except
flunitrazepam, GHB, or ketamine)’’,
and inserting the following new
heading:
‘‘Date Rape Drugs
(except
flunitrazepam,
GHB, or ketamine).
Converted Drug
Weight’’;
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and by striking ‘‘marihuana’’ each
place such term appears;
and in the text before the heading
relating to Measurement Conversion
Table, by striking ‘‘To facilitate
conversions to drug equivalencies’’ and
inserting ‘‘To facilitate conversions to
converted drug weights’’.
7. Technical Amendment
Synopsis of Amendment: This
proposed amendment makes various
technical changes to the Guidelines
Manual.
Part A of the proposed amendment
makes certain clarifying changes to two
guidelines. First, the proposed
amendment amends Chapter One, Part
A, Subpart 1(4)(b) (Departures) to
provide an explanatory note addressing
the fact that § 5K2.19 (Post-Sentencing
Rehabilitative Efforts) was deleted by
Amendment 768, effective November 1,
2012. Second, the proposed amendment
makes minor clarifying changes to
Application Note 2(A) to § 2B1.1 (Theft,
Property Destruction, and Fraud), to
make clear that, for purposes of
subsection (a)(1)(A), an offense is
‘‘referenced to this guideline’’ if § 2B1.1
is the applicable Chapter Two guideline
specifically referenced in Appendix A
(Statutory Index) for the offense of
conviction.
Part B of the proposed amendment
makes technical changes in §§ 2Q1.3
(Mishandling of Other Environmental
Pollutants; Recordkeeping, Tampering,
and Falsification), 2R1.1 (Bid-Rigging,
Price-Fixing or Market-Allocation
Agreements Among Competitors), 4A1.2
(Definitions and Instructions for
Computing Criminal History), and 4B1.4
(Armed Career Criminal), to correct title
references to § 4A1.3 (Departures Based
on Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)).
Part C of the proposed amendment
makes clerical changes to—
(1) the Commentary to § 1B1.13
(Reduction in Term of Imprisonment
Under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1)(A) (Policy
Statement)), to correct a typographical
error by inserting a missing word in
Application Note 4;
(2) subsection (d)(6) to § 2D1.11
(Unlawfully Distributing, Importing,
Exporting or Possessing a Listed
Chemical; Attempt or Conspiracy), to
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correct a typographical error in the line
referencing Pseudoephedrine;
(3) subsection (e)(2) to § 2D1.11
(Unlawfully Distributing, Importing,
Exporting or Possessing a Listed
Chemical; Attempt or Conspiracy), to
correct a punctuation mark under the
heading relating to List I Chemicals;
(4) the Commentary to § 2M2.1
(Destruction of, or Production of
Defective, War Material, Premises, or
Utilities) captioned ‘‘Statutory
Provisions,’’ to add a missing section
symbol and a reference to Appendix A
(Statutory Index);
(5) the Commentary to § 2Q1.1
(Knowing Endangerment Resulting
From Mishandling Hazardous or Toxic
Substances, Pesticides or Other
Pollutants) captioned ‘‘Statutory
Provisions,’’ to add a missing reference
to 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(5) and a reference
to Appendix A (Statutory Index);
(6) the Commentary to § 2Q1.2
(Mishandling of Hazardous or Toxic
Substances or Pesticides;
Recordkeeping, Tampering, and
Falsification; Unlawfully Transporting
Hazardous Materials in Commerce)
captioned ‘‘Statutory Provisions,’’ to
add a specific reference to 42 U.S.C.
7413(c)(1)–(4);
(7) the Commentary to § 2Q1.3
(Mishandling of Other Environmental
Pollutants; Recordkeeping, Tampering,
and Falsification) captioned ‘‘Statutory
Provisions,’’ to add a specific reference
to 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(1)–(4);
(8) subsection (a)(4) to § 5D1.3.
(Conditions of Supervised Release), to
change an inaccurate reference to
‘‘probation’’ to ‘‘supervised release’’;
and
(9) the lines referencing ‘‘18 U.S.C.
371’’ and ‘‘18 U.S.C. 1591’’ in Appendix
A (Statutory Index), to rearrange the
order of certain Chapter Two guidelines
references to place them in proper
numerical order.
Note 2(A)(i) by striking ‘‘as determined
under the provisions of § 1B1.2
(Applicable Guidelines) for the offense
of conviction’’ and inserting the
following: ‘‘specifically referenced in
Appendix A (Statutory Index) for the
offense of conviction, as determined
under the provisions of § 1B1.2
(Applicable Guidelines)’’.
(A) Clarifying Changes
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to § 1B1.13
captioned ‘‘Application Notes’’ is
amended in Note 4 by striking ‘‘factors
set forth 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)’’ and
inserting ‘‘factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
3553(a)’’.
Section 2D1.11 is amended—
in subsection (d)(6) by striking
‘‘Pseuodoephedrine’’ and inserting
‘‘Pseudoephedrine’’;
and in subsection (e)(2), under the
heading relating to List I Chemicals, by
striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon.
The Commentary to § 2M2.1
captioned ‘‘Statutory Provisions’’ is
amended by striking ‘‘§ 2153’’ and
inserting ‘‘§§ 2153’’, and by inserting at
Proposed Amendment
Chapter One, Part A is amended—
in Subpart 1(4)(b) (Departures) by
inserting an asterisk after ‘‘§ 5K2.19
(Post-Sentencing Rehabilitative
Efforts)’’, and by inserting after the first
paragraph the following new paragraph:
‘‘*Note: Section 5K2.19 (PostSentencing Rehabilitative Efforts) was
deleted by Amendment 768, effective
November 1, 2012. (See USSG App. C,
amendment 768.)’’;
and in the note at the end of Subpart
1(4)(d) (Probation and Split Sentences)
by striking ‘‘Supplement to Appendix
C’’ and inserting ‘‘USSG App. C’’.
The Commentary to § 2B1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
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(B) Title References to § 4A1.3
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to § 2Q1.3 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 8 by striking ‘‘Adequacy of
Criminal History Category’’ and
inserting ‘‘Departures Based on
Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)’’.
The Commentary to § 2R1.1 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Note 7 by striking ‘‘Adequacy of
Criminal History Category’’ and
inserting ‘‘Departures Based on
Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)’’.
Section 4A1.2 is amended in
subsections (h), (i), and (j) by striking
‘‘Adequacy of Criminal History
Category’’ each place such term appears
and inserting ‘‘Departures Based on
Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)’’.
The Commentary to § 4A1.2 captioned
‘‘Application Notes’’ is amended in
Notes 6 and 8 by striking ‘‘Adequacy of
Criminal History Category’’ both places
such term appears and inserting
‘‘Departures Based on Inadequacy of
Criminal History Category (Policy
Statement)’’.
The Commentary to § 4B1.4 captioned
‘‘Background’’ is amended by striking
‘‘Adequacy of Criminal History
Category’’ and inserting ‘‘Departures
Based on Inadequacy of Criminal
History Category (Policy Statement)’’.
(C) Clerical Changes
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the end the following: ‘‘For additional
statutory provision(s), see Appendix A
(Statutory Index).’’.
The Commentary to § 2Q1.1 captioned
‘‘Statutory Provisions’’ is amended by
striking ‘‘42 U.S.C. 6928(e)’’ and
inserting ‘‘42 U.S.C. 6928(e),
7413(c)(5)’’, and by inserting at the end
the following: ‘‘For additional statutory
provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory
Index).’’.
The Commentary to § 2Q1.2 captioned
‘‘Statutory Provisions’’ is amended by
striking ‘‘7413’’ and inserting
‘‘7413(c)(1)–(4)’’.
The Commentary to § 2Q1.3 captioned
‘‘Statutory Provisions’’ is amended by
striking ‘‘7413’’ and inserting
‘‘7413(c)(1)–(4)’’.
Section 5D1.3(a)(4) is amended by
striking ‘‘release on probation’’ and
inserting ‘‘release on supervised
release’’.
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is
amended in the line referenced to 18
U.S.C. 371 by rearranging the guidelines
to place them in proper numerical
order; and in the line referencing 18
U.S.C. 1591 by rearranging the
guidelines to place them in proper
numerical order.
[FR Doc. 2017–18076 Filed 8–24–17; 8:45 am]
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
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VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 241001
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900–0067]
Agency Information Collection Activity
Under OMB Review: Application for
Automobile or Other Conveyance and
Adaptive Equipment
Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, this notice announces that the
Veterans Benefits Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs, will
submit the collection of information
abstracted below to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and comment. The PRA
submission describes the nature of the
information collection and its expected
cost and burden and it includes the
actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before September 25, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
on the collection of information through
www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, Attn:
VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW.,
Washington, DC 20503 or sent through
electronic mail to oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB
Control No. 2900–0067’’ in any
correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cynthia Harvey-Pryor, Enterprise
Records Service (005R1B), Department
of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00129
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420,
(202) 461–5870 or email cynthia.harveypryor@va.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB
Control No. 2900–0067’’ in any
correspondence.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–21.
Title: Application for Automobile or
Other Conveyance and Adaptive
Equipment (Under 38 U.S.C. 3901–
3904) (VA Form 21–4502).
OMB Control Number: 2900–0067.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: VA Form 21–4502 is used to
gather the necessary information to
determine if a veteran or serviceperson
is entitled to an automobile allowance
and adaptive equipment.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number. The Federal Register
Notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on this collection
of information was published at 82 FR
113 on June 14, 2017, page 27328.
Affected Public: Individuals or
Households.
Estimated Annual Burden: 388.
Estimated Average Burden per
Respondent: 15 minutes.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,552.
By direction of the Secretary.
Cynthia Harvey-Pryor,
Department Clearance Officer, Office of
Quality and Compliance, Department of
Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017–17982 Filed 8–24–17; 8:45 am]
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25AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40651-40666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18076]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION
Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts
AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission
ACTION: Notice of proposed amendments to sentencing guidelines, policy
statements, and commentary. Request for public comment, including
public comment regarding retroactive application of any of the proposed
amendments. Notice of public hearing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Sentencing Commission is considering
promulgating amendments to the sentencing guidelines, policy
statements, and commentary. This notice sets forth the proposed
amendments and, for each proposed amendment, a synopsis of the issues
addressed by that amendment. This notice also sets forth several issues
for comment, some of which are set forth together with the proposed
amendments, and one of which (regarding retroactive application of
proposed amendments) is set forth in the Supplementary Information
section of this notice.
DATES: (1) Written Public Comment.--Written public comment regarding
the proposed amendments and issues for comment set forth in this
notice, including public comment regarding retroactive application of
any of the proposed amendments, should be received by the Commission
not later than October 10, 2017. Written reply comments, which may only
respond to issues raised in the original comment period, should be
received by the Commission not later than November 6, 2017. Public
comment regarding a proposed amendment received after the close of the
comment period, and reply comment received on issues not raised in the
original comment period, may not be considered.
(2) Public Hearing.--The Commission may hold a public hearing
regarding the proposed amendments and issues for comment set forth in
this notice. Further information regarding any public hearing that may
be scheduled, including requirements for testifying and providing
written testimony, as well as the date, time, location, and scope of
the hearing, will be provided by the Commission on its Web site at
www.ussc.gov.
ADDRESSES: All written comment should be sent to the Commission by
electronic mail or regular mail. The email address for public comment
is Public_Comment@ussc.gov. The regular mail address for public comment
is United States Sentencing Commission, One Columbus Circle NE., Suite
2-500, Washington, DC 20002-8002, Attention: Public Affairs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Leonard, Director, Office of
Legislative and Public Affairs, (202) 502-4500, pubaffairs@ussc.gov.
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 the Congress not later than the first day of May each
year pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(p).
Publication of a proposed amendment requires the affirmative vote
of at least three voting members of the Commission and is deemed to be
a request for public comment on the proposed amendment. See Rules 2.2
and 4.4 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. In
contrast, the affirmative vote of at least four voting members is
required to promulgate an amendment and submit it to Congress. See Rule
2.2; 28 U.S.C. 994(p).
The proposed amendments in this notice are presented in one of two
formats. First, some of the amendments are proposed as specific
revisions to a guideline, policy statement, or commentary. Bracketed
text within a proposed amendment indicates a heightened interest on the
Commission's part in comment and suggestions regarding alternative
policy choices; for example, a proposed enhancement of [2][4][6] levels
indicates that the Commission is considering, and invites comment on,
alternative policy choices regarding the appropriate level of
enhancement. Similarly, bracketed text within a specific offense
characteristic or application note means that the Commission
specifically invites comment on whether the proposed provision is
appropriate. Second, the Commission has highlighted certain issues for
comment and invites suggestions on how the Commission should respond to
those issues.
In summary, the proposed amendments and issues for comment set
forth in this notice are as follows:
(1) A multi-part proposed amendment to respond to the Bipartisan
Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74 (Nov. 2, 2015), including (A)
revisions to Appendix A (Statutory Index), and a related issue for
comment; and (B) amending Sec. 2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and
Fraud) to address new increased penalties for certain persons who
commit fraud offenses under certain Social Security programs, and
related issues for comment;
(2) a multi-part proposed amendment relating to the findings and
recommendations contained in the May 2016 Report of the Commission's
Tribal Issues Advisory Group, including (A) amending the Commentary to
Sec. 4A1.3 (Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)) to set forth a non-exhaustive list of
factors for the court to consider in determining whether, and to what
extent, an upward departure based on a tribal court conviction is
appropriate, and related issues for comment; and (B) amending the
Commentary to Sec. 1B1.1 (Application Instructions) to provide a
definition of ``court protection order,'' and a related issue for
comment;
(3) a multi-part proposed amendment to Chapters Four (Criminal
History and Criminal Livelihood) and Five (Determining the Sentence),
including (A) setting forth options for a new Chapter Four guideline,
at Sec. 4C1.1 (First Offenders), and amending Sec. 5C1.1 (Imposition
of a Term of Imprisonment) to provide lower guideline ranges for
``first offenders'' generally and increase the availability of
alternatives to incarceration for such offenders at the lower levels of
the Sentencing Table, and related issues for comment; and (B) revising
Chapter Five to (i) amend the Sentencing Table in Chapter Five, Part A
to expand Zone B by consolidating Zones B and C and (ii) amend the
Commentary to Sec. 5F1.2 (Home Detention) to revise language requiring
electronic monitoring, and related issues for comment.
(4) a proposed amendment to the Commentary to Sec. 3E1.1
(Acceptance of Responsibility) setting forth options to revise how a
defendant's challenge to relevant conduct should be considered in
determining whether the defendant has accepted responsibility for
purposes of the guideline, and a related issue for comment;
(5) a multi-part proposed amendment to the Guidelines Manual to
respond to recently enacted legislation and
[[Page 40652]]
miscellaneous guideline issues, including (A) amending Sec. 2B5.3
(Criminal Infringement of Copyright or Trademark) to respond to changes
made by the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015, Public Law 114-
154 (May 16, 2016); (B) amending Sec. 2A3.5 (Failure to Register as a
Sex Offender), Sec. 2A3.6 (Aggravated Offenses Relating to
Registration as a Sex Offender), and Appendix A (Statutory Index) to
respond to changes made by the International Megan's Law to Prevent
Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced
Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders Act, Public Law 114-119 (Feb.
8, 2016); (C) revisions to Appendix A (Statutory Index) to respond to a
new offense established by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for
the 21st Century Act, Public Law 114-182 (June 22, 2016); (D) a
technical amendment to Sec. 2G1.3 (Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Transportation of Minors to
Engage in a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct; Travel to
Engage in Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor;
Sex Trafficking of Children; Use of Interstate Facilities to Transport
Information about a Minor); and (E) amending Sec. 5D1.3 (Conditions of
Supervised Release) to respond to changes made by the Justice for All
Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law 114-324 (Dec. 16, 2016).
(6) a proposed amendment to make technical changes to Sec. 2D1.1
(Unlawful Manufacturing, Importing, Exporting, or Trafficking
(Including Possession with Intent to Commit These Offenses); Attempt or
Conspiracy) to replace ``marihuana equivalency'' as the conversion
factor in the Drug Equivalency Tables for determining penalties for
certain controlled substances;
(7) a proposed amendment to make various technical changes to the
Guidelines Manual, including (A) an explanatory note in Chapter One,
Part A, Subpart 1(4)(b) (Departures) and clarifying changes to the
Commentary to Sec. 2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud); (B)
technical changes to Sec. 4A1.2 (Definitions and Instructions for
Computing Criminal History) and to the Commentary of other guidelines
to correct title references to Sec. 4A1.3 (Departures Based on
Inadequacy of Criminal History Category (Policy Statement)); and (C)
clerical changes to Sec. 2D1.11 (Unlawful Distributing, Importing,
Exporting or Possessing a Listed Chemical; Attempt or Conspiracy),
Sec. 5D1.3 (Conditions of Supervised Release), Appendix A (Statutory
Index), and to the Commentary of other guidelines.
In addition, the Commission requests public comment regarding
whether, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2) and 28 U.S.C. 994(u), any
proposed amendment published in this notice should be included in
subsection (d) of Sec. 1B1.10 (Reduction in Term of Imprisonment as a
Result of Amended Guideline Range (Policy Statement)) as an amendment
that may be applied retroactively to previously sentenced defendants.
The Commission lists in Sec. 1B1.10(d) the specific guideline
amendments that the court may apply retroactively under 18 U.S.C.
3582(c)(2). The background commentary to Sec. 1B1.10 lists the purpose
of the amendment, the magnitude of the change in the guideline range
made by the amendment, and the difficulty of applying the amendment
retroactively to determine an amended guideline range under Sec.
1B1.10(b) as among the factors the Commission considers in selecting
the amendments included in Sec. 1B1.10(d). To the extent practicable,
public comment should address each of these factors.
The text of the proposed amendments and related issues for comment
are set forth below. Additional information pertaining to the proposed
amendments and issues for comment described in this notice may be
accessed through the Commission's Web site at www.ussc.gov.
Authority: 28 U.S.C. 994(a), (o), (p), (x); USSC Rules of
Practice and Procedure 4.3, 4.4.
William H. Pryor, Jr.,
Acting Chair.
Proposed Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines, Policy Statements,
and Official Commentary
1. Bipartisan Budget Act
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: This proposed amendment responds to
the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74 (Nov. 2, 2015),
which, among other things, amended three existing criminal statutes
concerned with fraudulent claims under certain Social Security
programs.
The three criminal statutes amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of
2015 are sections 208 (Penalties [for fraud involving the Federal Old-
Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund]), 811 (Penalties for fraud
[involving special benefits for certain World War II veterans]), and
1632 (Penalties for fraud [involving supplemental security income for
the aged, blind, and disabled]) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
408, 1011, and 1383a, respectively).
(A) Conspiracy To Commit Social Security Fraud
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 added new subdivisions
prohibiting conspiracy to commit fraud for substantive offenses already
contained in the three statutes (42 U.S.C. 408, 1011, and 1383a). For
each of the three statutes, the new subdivision provides that whoever
``conspires to commit any offense described in any of [the]
paragraphs'' enumerated shall be imprisoned for not more than five
years, the same statutory maximum penalty applicable to the substantive
offense.
The three amended statutes are currently referenced in Appendix A
(Statutory Index) to Sec. 2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and
Fraud). The proposed amendment would amend Appendix A so that sections
408, 1011, and 1383a of Title 42 are referenced not only to Sec. 2B1.1
but also to Sec. 2X1.1 (Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not
Covered by a Specific Office Guideline)).
An issue for comment is provided.
(B) Increased Penalties for Certain Individuals Violating Positions of
Trust
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 also amended sections 408, 1011,
and 1383a of Title 42 to add increased penalties for certain persons
who commit fraud offenses under the relevant Social Security programs.
The Act included a provision in all three statutes identifying such a
person as:
a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in
connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this
title (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or
former employee of the Social Security Administration), or who is a
physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the
submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such
determination . . . .
A person who meets this requirement and is convicted of a fraud
offense under one of the three amended statutes may be imprisoned for
not more than ten years, double the otherwise applicable five-year
penalty for other offenders. The new increased penalties apply to all
of the fraudulent conduct in subsection (a) of the three statutes.
The proposed amendment would amend Sec. 2B1.1 to address cases in
which the defendant was convicted under 42 U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or
1383a(a) and the statutory maximum term of ten years' imprisonment
applies.
[[Page 40653]]
It provides an enhancement of [4][2] levels and a minimum offense level
of [14][12] for such cases. It also adds Commentary specifying whether
an adjustment under Sec. 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of
Special Skill) applies -- bracketing two possibilities: if the
enhancement applies, the adjustment does not apply; and if the
enhancement applies, the adjustment is not precluded from applying.
Issues for comment are also provided.
(A) Conspiracy To Commit Social Security Fraud
Proposed Amendment
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is amended in the line referenced to
42 U.S.C. 408 by inserting ``, 2X1.1'' at the end; in the line
referenced to 42 U.S.C. 1011 by inserting ``, 2X1.1'' at the end; and
in the line referenced to 42 U.S.C. 1383a(a) by inserting ``, 2X1.1''
at the end.
Issue for Comment
1. Part A of the proposed amendment would reference the new
conspiracy offenses under 42 U.S.C. 408, 1011, and 1383a to Sec. 2X1.1
(Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy (Not Covered by a Specific Office
Guideline)). The Commission invites comment on whether the guidelines
covered by the proposed amendment adequately account for these
offenses. If not, what revisions to the guidelines would be appropriate
to account for these offenses? Should the Commission reference these
new offenses to other guidelines instead of, or in addition to, the
guidelines covered by the proposed amendment?
(B) Increased Penalties for Certain Individuals Violating Positions of
Trust
Proposed Amendment
Section 2B1.1(b) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (13)
through (19) as paragraphs (14) through (20), respectively, and by
inserting the following new paragraph (13):
``(13) If the defendant was convicted under 42 U.S.C. 408(a),
1011(a), or 1383a(a) and the statutory maximum term of ten years'
imprisonment applies, increase by [4][2] levels. If the resulting
offense level is less than [14][12], increase to level [14][12].''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2B1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended by redesignating Notes 11 through 20 as Notes 12 through 21,
respectively, and by inserting the following new Note 11:
``11. Interaction of Subsection (b)(13) and Sec. 3B1.3.--[If
subsection (b)(13) applies, do not apply Sec. 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position
of Trust or Use of Special Skill).][Application of subsection (b)(13)
does not preclude a defendant from consideration for an adjustment
under Sec. 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of Special
Skill).]''.
Issues for Comment
1. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 amended sections 408, 1011,
and 1383a of Title 42 to include a provision in all three statutes
increasing the statutory maximum term of imprisonment from five years
to ten years for certain persons who commit fraud offenses under
subsection (a) of the three statutes. The Act identifies such a person
as:
a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in
connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this
title (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or
former employee of the Social Security Administration), or who is a
physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the
submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such
determination . . . .
The Commission seeks comment on how, if at all, the guidelines
should be amended to address cases in which the offense of conviction
is 42 U.S.C. 408, 1011, or 1383a, and the statutory maximum term of ten
years' imprisonment applies because the defendant was a person
described in 42 U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a). Are these cases
adequately addressed by existing provisions in the guidelines, such as
the adjustment in Sec. 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of
Special Skill)? If so, as an alternative to the proposed amendment,
should the Commission amend Sec. 2B1.1 only to provide an application
note that expressly provides that, for a defendant subject to the ten
years' statutory maximum in such cases, an adjustment under Sec. 3B1.3
ordinarily would apply? If not, how should the Commission amend the
guidelines to address these cases?
2. The proposed amendment would amend Sec. 2B1.1 to provide an
enhancement and a minimum offense level for cases in which the
defendant was convicted under 42 U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a)
and the statutory maximum term of ten years' imprisonment applies
because the defendant was a person described in 42 U.S.C. 408(a),
1011(a), or 1383a(a). However, there may be cases in which a defendant,
who meets the criteria set forth for the new statutory maximum term of
ten years' imprisonment, is convicted under a general fraud statute
(e.g., 18 U.S.C. 1341) for an offense involving conduct described in 42
U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a).
The Commission seeks comment on whether the Commission should
instead amend Sec. 2B1.1 to provide a general specific offense
characteristic for such cases. For example, should the Commission
provide an enhancement for cases in which the offense involved conduct
described in 42 U.S.C. 408(a), 1011(a), or 1383a(a) and the defendant
is a person ``who receives a fee or other income for services performed
in connection with any determination with respect to benefits [covered
by those statutory provisions] (including a claimant representative,
translator, or current or former employee of the Social Security
Administration), or who is a physician or other health care provider
who submits, or causes the submission of, medical or other evidence in
connection with any such determination''? If so, how many levels would
be appropriate for such an enhancement? How should such an enhancement
interact with the existing enhancements at Sec. 2B1.1 and the Chapter
Three adjustment at Sec. 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of
Special Skill)?
2. Tribal Issues
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: This proposed amendment is the
result of the Commission's study of the May 2016 Report of the
Commission's Tribal Issues Advisory Group. See U.S. Sentencing Comm'n,
``Notice of Final Priorities,'' 82 FR 39949 (Aug. 22, 2017). See also
Report of the Tribal Issues Advisory Group (May 16, 2016), at https://www.ussc.gov/research/research-publications/report-tribal-issues-advisory-group.
In 2015, the Commission established the Tribal Issues Advisory
Group (TIAG) as an ad hoc advisory group to the Commission. Among other
things, the Commission tasked the TIAG with studying the following
issues--
(A) the operation of the federal sentencing guidelines as they
relate to American Indian defendants and victims and to offenses
committed in Indian Country, and any viable methods for revising the
guidelines to (i) improve their operation or (ii) address particular
concerns of tribal communities and courts;
(B) whether there are disparities in the application of the federal
sentencing guidelines to American Indian defendants, and, if so, how to
address them;
(C) the impact of the federal sentencing guidelines on offenses
committed in Indian Country in
[[Page 40654]]
comparison with analogous offenses prosecuted in state courts and
tribal courts;
(D) the use of tribal court convictions in the computation of
criminal history scores, risk assessment, and for other purposes;
(E) how the federal sentencing guidelines should account for
protection orders issued by tribal courts; and
(F) any other issues relating to American Indian defendants and
victims, or to offenses committed in Indian Country, that the TIAG
considers appropriate. See Tribal Issues Advisory Group Charter Sec.
1(b)(3).
The Commission also directed the TIAG to present a final report
with its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations
that the TIAG considered appropriate on potential amendments to the
guidelines and policy statements. See id. Sec. 6(a). On May 16, 2016,
the TIAG presented to the Commission its final report. Among the
recommendations suggested in the Report, the TIAG recommends revisions
to the Guidelines Manual relating to the use of tribal court
convictions in the computation of criminal history points and how the
guidelines should account for protection orders issued by tribal
courts.
The proposed amendment contains two parts (Parts A and B). The
Commission is considering whether to promulgate one or both of these
parts, as they are not mutually exclusive.
(A) Tribal Court Convictions
Pursuant to Chapter Four, Part A (Criminal History), sentences
resulting from tribal court convictions are not counted for purposes of
calculating criminal history points, but may be considered under Sec.
4A1.3 (Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History Category
(Policy Statement)). See USSG Sec. 4A1.2(i). The policy statement at
Sec. 4A1.3 allows for upward departures if reliable information
indicates that the defendant's criminal history category substantially
underrepresents the seriousness of the defendant's criminal history.
Among the grounds for departure, the policy statement includes
``[p]rior sentences not used in computing the criminal history category
(e.g., sentences for foreign and tribal offenses).'' USSG Sec.
4A1.3(a)(2)(A).
As noted in the TIAG's report, in recent years there have been
important changes in tribal criminal jurisdiction. In 2010, Congress
enacted the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA), Public Law 111-
211, to address high rates of violent crime in Indian Country by
improving criminal justice funding and infrastructure in tribal
government, and expanding the sentencing authority of tribal court
systems. In 2013, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of
2013 (VAWA Reauthorization), Public Law 113-4, was enacted to expand
the criminal jurisdiction of tribes to prosecute, sentence, and convict
Indians and non-Indians who assault Indian spouses or dating partners
or violate a protection order in Indian Country. It also established
new assault offenses and enhanced existing assault offenses. Both
statutes increased criminal jurisdiction for tribal courts, but also
required more robust court procedures and provided more procedural
protections for defendants.
The TIAG notes in its report that ``[w]hile some tribes have
exercised expanded jurisdiction under TLOA and the VAWA
Reauthorization, most have not done so. Given the lack of tribal
resources, and the absence of significant additional funding under TLOA
and the VAWA Reauthorization to date, it is not certain that more
tribes will be able to do so any time soon.'' TIAG Report, at 10-11.
Members of the TIAG describe their experience with tribal courts as
``widely varied,'' expressing among their findings certain concerns
about funding, perceptions of judicial bias or political influence, due
process protections, and access to tribal court records. Id. at 11-12.
The TIAG report highlights that ``[t]ribal courts occupy a unique
and valuable place in the criminal justice system,'' while also
recognizing that ``[t]ribal courts range in style.'' Id. at 13.
According to the TIAG, the differences in style and the concerns
expressed above ``make it often difficult for a federal court to
determine how to weigh tribal court convictions in rendering a
sentencing decision.'' Id. at 11. It also asserts that ``taking a
single approach to the consideration of tribal court convictions would
be very difficult and could potentially lead to a disparate result
among Indian defendants in federal courts.'' Id. at 12. Thus, the TIAG
concludes that tribal convictions should not be counted for purposes of
determining criminal history points pursuant to Chapter Four, Part A,
and that ``the current use of USSG Sec. 4A1.3 to depart upward in
individual cases continues to allow the best formulation of `sufficient
but not greater than necessary' sentences for defendants, while not
increasing sentencing disparities or introducing due process
concerns.'' Id. Nevertheless, the TIAG recommends that the Commission
amend Sec. 4A1.3 to provide guidance and a more structured analytical
framework for courts to consider when determining whether a departure
is appropriate based on a defendant's record of tribal court
convictions. The guidance recommended by the TIAG ``collectively . . .
reflect[s] important considerations for courts to balance the rights of
defendants, the unique and important status of tribal courts, the need
to avoid disparate sentences in light of disparate tribal court
practices and circumstances, and the goal of accurately assessing the
severity of any individual defendant's criminal history.'' Id. at 13.
The proposed amendment would amend the Commentary to Sec. 4A1.3 to
set forth a non-exhaustive list of factors for the court to consider in
determining whether, and to what extent, an upward departure based on a
tribal court conviction is appropriate.
Issues for comment are also provided.
(B) Court Protection Orders
Under the Guidelines Manual, the violation of a court protection
order is a specific offense characteristic in three Chapter Two offense
guidelines. See USSG Sec. Sec. 2A2.2 (Aggravated Assault), 2A6.1
(Threatening or Harassing Communications; Hoaxes; False Liens), and
2A6.2 (Stalking or Domestic Violence). The Commission has heard
concerns that the term ``court protection order'' has not been defined
in the guidelines and should be clarified.
The TIAG notes in its report the importance of defining ``court
protection order'' in the guidelines, because--
[a] clear definition of that term will ensure that orders used
for sentencing enhancements are the result of court proceedings
assuring appropriate due process protections, that there is
consistent identification and treatment of such orders, and that
such orders issued by tribal courts receive treatment consistent
with that of other issuing jurisdictions. TIAG Report, at 14.
The TIAG recommends that the Commission adopt a definition of
``court protection order'' that incorporates the statutory provisions
at 18 U.S.C. 2265 and 2266. Section 2266(5) provides that the term
``protection order'' includes:
(A) any injunction, restraining order, or any other order issued
by a civil or criminal court for the purpose of preventing violent
or threatening acts or harassment against, sexual violence, or
contact or communication with or physical proximity to, another
person, including any temporary or final order issued by a civil or
criminal court whether obtained by filing an independent action or
as a pendente lite order in another proceeding so long as any civil
or criminal order was issued in response to a complaint, petition,
or motion filed by or on behalf of a person seeking protection; and
[[Page 40655]]
(B) any support, child custody or visitation provisions, orders,
remedies or relief issued as part of a protection order, restraining
order, or injunction pursuant to State, tribal, territorial, or
local law authorizing the issuance of protection orders, restraining
orders, or injunctions for the protection of victims of domestic
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking. 18 U.S.C.
2266(5).
Section 2265(b) provides that
A protection order issued by a State, tribal, or territorial
court is consistent with this subsection if--
(1) such court has jurisdiction over the parties and matter
under the law of such State, Indian tribe, or territory; and
(2) reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard is given to
the person against whom the order is sought sufficient to protect
that person's right to due process. In the case of ex parte orders,
notice and opportunity to be heard must be provided within the time
required by State, tribal, or territorial law, and in any event
within a reasonable time after the order is issued, sufficient to
protect the respondent's due process rights. 18 U.S.C. 2265(b).
The proposed amendment would amend the Commentary to Sec. 1B1.1
(Application Instructions) to provide a definition of court protection
order derived from 18 U.S.C. 2266(5), with a provision that it must be
consistent with 18 U.S.C. 2265(b).
An issue for comment is also provided.
(A) Tribal Court Convictions
Proposed Amendment
Section 4A1.3(a)(2) is amended by striking ``subsection (a)'' and
inserting ``subsection (a)(1)''; and by striking ``tribal offenses''
and inserting ``tribal convictions''.
The Commentary to Sec. 4A1.3 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 2 by inserting at the end the following new paragraph
(C):
``(C) Upward Departures Based on Tribal Court Convictions.--In
determining whether, or to what extent, an upward departure based on a
tribal court conviction is appropriate, the court shall consider the
factors set forth in Sec. 4A1.3(a) above and, in addition, may
consider relevant factors such as the following:
(i) The defendant was represented by a lawyer, had the right to a
trial by jury, and received other due process protections consistent
with those provided to criminal defendants under the United States
Constitution.
(ii) The tribe was exercising expanded jurisdiction under the
Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, Public Law 111-211 (July 29, 2010),
and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Public Law
113-4 (March 7, 2013).
(iii) The tribal court conviction is not based on the same conduct
that formed the basis for a conviction from another jurisdiction that
receives criminal history points pursuant to this Chapter.
(iv) The conviction is for an offense that otherwise would be
counted under Sec. 4A1.2 (Definitions and Instructions for Computing
Criminal History).
[(v) At the time the defendant was sentenced, the tribal government
had formally expressed a desire that convictions from its courts should
be counted for purposes of computing criminal history pursuant to the
Guidelines Manual.]''.
Issues for Comment
1. Part A of the proposed amendment would provide a list of
relevant factors that courts may consider, in addition to the factors
set forth in Sec. 4A1.3(a), in determining whether an upward departure
based on a tribal court conviction may be warranted. The Commission
seeks comment on whether the factors provided in the proposed amendment
are appropriate. Should any factors be deleted or changed? Should the
Commission provide additional or different guidance? If so, what
guidance should the Commission provide?
In particular, the Commission seeks comment on how these factors
should interact with each other and with the factors already contained
in Sec. 4A1.3(a). Should the Commission provide greater emphasis on
one or more factors set forth in the proposed amendment? For example,
how much weight should be given to factors that address due process
concerns (subdivisions (i) and (ii)) in relation to the other factors
provided in the proposed amendment, such as those factors relevant to
preventing unwarranted double counting (subdivisions (iii) and (iv))?
Should the Commission provide that in order to consider whether an
upward departure based on a tribal court conviction is appropriate, and
before taking into account any other factor, the court must first
determine as a threshold factor that the defendant received due process
protections consistent with those provided to criminal defendants under
the United States Constitution?
Finally, Part A of the proposed amendment brackets the possibility
of including as a factor that courts may consider in deciding whether
to depart based on a tribal court conviction if, ``at the time the
defendant was sentenced, the tribal government had formally expressed a
desire that convictions from its courts should be counted for purposes
of computing criminal history pursuant to the Guidelines Manual.'' The
Commission invites broad comment on this factor and its interaction
with the other factors set forth in the proposed amendment. Is this
factor relevant to the court's determination of whether to depart? What
are the advantages and disadvantages of including such a factor? How
much weight should be given to this factor in relation to the other
factors provided in the proposed amendment? What criteria should be
used in determining when a tribal government has ``formally expressed a
desire'' that convictions from its courts should count? How would
tribal governments notify and make available such statements?
2. Pursuant to subsection (i) of Sec. 4A1.2 (Definitions and
Instructions for Computing Criminal History), sentences resulting from
tribal court convictions are not counted for purposes of calculating
criminal history points, but may be considered under Sec. 4A1.3
(Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History Category (Policy
Statement)). As stated above, the policy statement at Sec. 4A1.3
allows for upward departures if reliable information indicates that the
defendant's criminal history category substantially underrepresents the
seriousness of the defendant's criminal history.
The Commission invites comment on whether the Commission should
consider changing how the guidelines account for sentences resulting
from tribal court convictions for purposes of determining criminal
history points pursuant to Chapter Four, Part A (Criminal History).
Should the Commission consider amending Sec. 4A1.2(i) and, if so, how?
For example, should the guidelines treat sentences resulting from
tribal court convictions same as other sentences imposed for federal,
state, and local offenses that may be used to compute criminal history
points? Should the guidelines treat sentences resulting from tribal
court convictions more akin to military sentences and distinguish
between certain types of tribal courts? Is there a different approach
the Commission should follow in addressing the use of tribal court
convictions in the computation of criminal history scores?
(B) Court Protection Orders
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to Sec. 1B1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 1 by redesignating paragraphs (D) through (L) as
paragraphs (E) through (M), respectively; and by inserting the
following new paragraph (D):
[[Page 40656]]
``(D) `court protection order' means `protection order' as defined
by 18 U.S.C. 2266(5) and consistent with 18 U.S.C. 2265(b).''.
Issue for Comment
1. Part B of the proposed amendment would include in the Commentary
to Sec. 1B1.1 (Application Instructions) a definition of court
protection order derived from 18 U.S.C. 2266(5) and consistent with 18
U.S.C. 2265(b). Is this definition appropriate? If not, what
definition, if any, should the Commission provide?
3. First Offenders/Alternatives to Incarceration
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: The proposed amendment contains two
parts (Part A and Part B). The Commission is considering whether to
promulgate either or both of these parts, as they are not mutually
exclusive.
(A) First Offenders
Part A of the proposed amendment is primarily informed by the
Commission's multi-year study of recidivism, including the
circumstances that correlate with increased or reduced recidivism. See
U.S. Sentencing Comm'n, ``Notice of Final Priorities,'' 82 FR 39949
(Aug. 22, 2017). It is also informed by the Commission's continued
study of alternatives to incarceration. Id.
Under the Guidelines Manual, offenders with minimal or no criminal
history are classified into Criminal History Category I. ``First
offenders,'' offenders with no criminal history, are addressed in the
guidelines only by reference to Criminal History Category I. However,
Criminal History Category I includes not only ``first'' offenders but
also offenders with varying criminal histories, such as offenders with
no criminal history points and those with one criminal history point.
Accordingly, the following offenders are classified in the same
category: (1) first time offenders with no prior convictions; (2)
offenders who have prior convictions that are not counted because they
were not within the time limits set forth in Sec. 4A1.2(d) and (e);
(3) offenders who have prior convictions that are not used in computing
the criminal history category for reasons other than their
``staleness'' (e.g., sentences resulting from foreign or tribal court
convictions, minor misdemeanor convictions or infractions); and (4)
offenders with a prior conviction that received only one criminal
history point.
Part A sets forth a new Chapter Four guideline, at Sec. 4C1.1
(First Offenders), that would provide lower guideline ranges for
``first offenders'' generally and increase the availability of
alternatives to incarceration for such offenders at the lower levels of
the Sentencing Table (compared to otherwise similar offenders in
Criminal History Category I). Recidivism data analyzed by the
Commission indicate that ``first offenders'' generally pose the lowest
risk of recidivism. See, e.g., U.S. Sentencing Comm'n, ``Recidivism
Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive Overview,'' at 18 (2016),
available at https://www.ussc.gov/research/research-publications/recidivism-among-federal-offenders-comprehensive-overview. In addition,
28 U.S.C. 994(j) directs that alternatives to incarceration are
generally appropriate for first offenders not convicted of a violent or
otherwise serious offense. The new Chapter Four guideline, in
conjunction with the revision to Sec. 5C1.1 (Imposition of a Term of
Imprisonment) described below, would further implement the
congressional directive at section 994(j).
Part A of the proposed amendment provides two options for defining
a ``first offender'' who would be eligible for a decrease in offense
level under the new guideline. Option 1 defines a defendant as a
``first offender'' if the defendant did not receive any criminal
history points from Chapter Four, Part A. Option 2 defines a defendant
as a ``first offender'' if the defendant has no prior convictions of
any kind.
Part A also provides two options for the decrease in offense level
that would apply to a first offender. Option 1 provides a decrease of
[1] level from the offense level determined under Chapters Two and
Three. Option 2 provides a decrease of [2] levels if the final offense
level determined under Chapters Two and Three is less than level [16],
or a decrease of [1] level if the offense level determined under
Chapters Two and Three is level [16] or greater.
Part A also amends Sec. 5C1.1 (Imposition of a Term of
Imprisonment) to add a new subsection (g) that provides that if (1) the
defendant is determined to be a first offender under Sec. 4C1.1 (First
Offender), (2) [the instant offense of conviction is not a crime of
violence][the defendant did not use violence or credible threats of
violence or possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon in connection
with the offense], and (3) the guideline range applicable to that
defendant is in Zone A or Zone B of the Sentencing Table, the court
ordinarily should impose a sentence other than a sentence of
imprisonment in accordance with the other sentencing options.
Finally, Part A of the proposed amendment also provides issues for
comment.
(B) Consolidation of Zones B and C in the Sentencing Table
Part B of the proposed amendment is a result of the Commission's
continued study of alternatives to incarceration. See U.S. Sentencing
Comm'n, ``Notice of Final Priorities,'' 82 FR 39949 (Aug. 22, 2017).
The Guidelines Manual defines and allocates sentencing options in
Chapter Five (Determining the Sentence). This chapter sets forth
``zones'' in the Sentencing Table based on the minimum months of
imprisonment in each cell. The Sentencing Table sorts all sentencing
ranges into four zones, labeled A through D. Each zone allows for
different sentencing options, as follows:
Zone A.--All sentence ranges within Zone A, regardless of the
underlying offense level or criminal history category, are zero to six
months. A sentencing court has the discretion to impose a sentence that
is a fine-only, probation-only, probation with a confinement condition
(home detention, community confinement, or intermittent confinement), a
split sentence (term of imprisonment with term of supervised release
with condition of confinement), or imprisonment. Zone A allows for
probation without any conditions of confinement.
Zone B.--Sentence ranges in Zone B are from one to 15 months of
imprisonment. Zone B allows for a probation term to be substituted for
imprisonment, contingent upon the probation term including conditions
of confinement. Zone B allows for non-prison sentences, which
technically result in sentencing ranges larger than six months, because
the minimum term of imprisonment is one month and the maximum terms
begin at seven months. To avoid sentencing ranges exceeding six months,
the guidelines require that probationary sentences in Zone B include
conditions of confinement. Zone B also allows for a term of
imprisonment (of at least one month) followed by a term of supervised
release with a condition of confinement (i.e., a ``split sentence'') or
a term of imprisonment only.
Zone C.--Sentences in Zone C range from 10 to 18 months of
imprisonment. Zone C allows for split sentences, which must include a
term of imprisonment equivalent to at least half of the minimum of the
applicable guideline range. The remaining half of the term requires
supervised release with a condition of community confinement or
[[Page 40657]]
home detention. Alternatively, the court has the option of imposing a
term of imprisonment only.
Zone D.--The final zone, Zone D, allows for imprisonment only,
ranging from 15 months to life.
Part B of the proposed amendment expands Zone B by consolidating
Zones B and C. The expanded Zone B would include sentence ranges from
one to 18 months and allow for the sentencing options described above.
Although the proposed amendment would in fact delete Zone C by its
consolidation with Zone B, Zone D would not be redesignated. Finally,
Part B makes conforming changes to Sec. Sec. 5B1.1 (Imposition of a
Term of Probation) and 5C1.1 (Imposition of a Term of Imprisonment).
Part B also amends the Commentary to Sec. 5F1.2 (Home Detention)
to remove the language instructing that (1) electronic monitoring
``ordinarily should be used in connection with'' home detention; (2)
alternative means of surveillance may be used ``so long as they are
effective as electronic monitoring;'' and (3) ``surveillance necessary
for effective use of home detention ordinarily requires'' electronic
monitoring.
Issues for comment are also provided.
(A) First Offenders
Proposed Amendment
Chapter Four is amended by inserting at the end the following new
Part C:
PART C--FIRST OFFENDER
Sec. 4C1.1. First Offender
[Definition of ``First Offender''
[Option 1:
(a) A defendant is a first offender if the defendant did not
receive any criminal history points from Chapter Four, Part A.]
[Option 2:
(a) A defendant is a first offender if the defendant has no prior
convictions of any kind.]]
[Decrease in Offense Level for First Offenders
[Option 1:
(b) If the defendant is determined to be a first offender under
subsection (a), decrease the offense level determined under Chapters
Two and Three by [1] level.]
[Option 2:
(b) If the defendant is determined to be a first offender under
subsection (a), decrease the offense level as follows:
(1) if the offense level determined under Chapters Two and Three is
less than level [16], decrease by [2] levels; or
(2) if the offense level determined under Chapters Two and Three is
level [16] or greater, decrease by [1] level.]]
Commentary
Application Note:
1. Cases Involving Mandatory Minimum Penalties.--If the case
involves a statutorily required minimum sentence of at least five years
and the defendant meets the criteria set forth in subsection (a) of
Sec. 5C1.2 (Limitation on Applicability of Statutory Minimum Sentences
in Certain Cases), the offense level determined under this section
shall be not less than level 17. See Sec. 5C1.2(b).''.
Section 5C1.1 is amended by inserting at the end the following new
subsection (g):
``(g) In cases in which (1) the defendant is determined to be a
first offender under Sec. 4C1.1 (First Offender), (2) [the instant
offense of conviction is not a crime of violence][the defendant did not
use violence or credible threats of violence or possess a firearm or
other dangerous weapon in connection with the offense], and (3) the
guideline range applicable to that defendant is in Zone A or B of the
Sentencing Table, the court ordinarily should impose a sentence other
than a sentence of imprisonment in accordance with the other sentencing
options set forth in this guideline.''.
The Commentary to Sec. 5C1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended by inserting at the end the following new Note 10:
``10. Application of Subsection (g).--
(A) Sentence of Probation Prohibited.--The court may not impose a
sentence of probation pursuant to this provision if prohibited by
statute. See Sec. 5B1.1 (Imposition of a Term of Probation).
[(B) Definition of `Crime of Violence'.--For purposes of subsection
(g), `crime of violence' has the meaning given that term in Sec. 4B1.2
(Definitions of Terms Used in Section 4B1.1).
(C) Sentence of Imprisonment for First Offenders.--A sentence of
imprisonment may be appropriate in cases in which the defendant used
violence or credible threats of violence or possessed a firearm or
other dangerous weapon in connection with the offense].''.
Issues for Comment
1. Part A of the proposed amendment provides two options for how to
define ``first offender'' for purposes of applying the new Sec. 4C1.1
(First Offender). Option 1 defines a defendant as a ``first offender''
if the defendant did not receive any criminal history points from
Chapter Four, Part A. Option 2 defines a defendant as a ``first
offender'' if the defendant has no prior convictions of any kind. The
Commission seeks comment on the proposed definition. Should the
Commission adopt a broader definition than either Option 1 or Option 2?
Should the Commission adopt a narrower definition than either option?
Should the Commission adopt a definition that is narrower than Option 1
but broader than Option 2? For example, should the Commission define
``first offender'' as a defendant who did not receive any criminal
history points from Chapter Four, Part A and has no prior felony
convictions? Should the Commission instead define ``first offender'' as
a defendant who either has no prior convictions of any kind or has only
prior convictions that are not counted under Sec. 4A1.2 for a reason
other than being too remote in time? Should the Commission provide
additional or different guidance for determining whether a defendant
is, or is not, a first offender?
2. Part A of the proposed amendment provides two options for the
decrease in offense level that would apply to a first offender. One of
the options, Option 1, would provide that if the defendant is
determined to be a first offender (as defined in the new guideline) a
decrease of [1] level from the offense level determined under Chapters
Two and Three would apply. Should the Commission limit the
applicability of the adjustment to defendants with an offense level
determined under Chapters Two and Three that is less than a certain
number of levels? For example, should the Commission provide that if
the offense level determined under Chapters Two and Three is less than
level [16], the offense level shall be decreased by [1] level? What
other limitations or requirements, if any, should the Commission
provide for such an adjustment?
3. Part A of the proposed amendment would amend Sec. 5C1.1
(Imposition of a Term of Imprisonment) to provide that if the defendant
is determined to be a first offender under the new Sec. 4C1.1 (First
Offender), [the defendant's instant offense of conviction is not a
crime of violence][the defendant did not use violence or credible
threats of violence or possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon in
connection with the offense], and the guideline range applicable to
that defendant is in Zone A or Zone B of the Sentencing Table, the
court ordinarily should impose a sentence
[[Page 40658]]
other than a sentence of imprisonment in accordance with the other
sentencing options. Should the Commission further limit the application
of such a rebuttable ``presumption'' and exclude certain categories of
non-violent offenses? If so, what offenses should be excluded from the
presumption of a non-incarceration sentence? For example, should the
Commission exclude public corruption, tax, and other white-collar
offenses?
4. If the Commission were to promulgate Part A of the proposed
amendment, what conforming changes, if any, should the Commission make
to other provisions of the Guidelines Manual?
(B) Consolidation of Zones B and C in the Sentencing Table
Proposed Amendment
Chapter Five, Part A is amended in the Sentencing Table by striking
``Zone C''; by redesignating Zone B to contain all guideline ranges
having a minimum of at least one month but not more than twelve months;
and by inserting below ``Zone B'' the following: ``[Zone C Deleted]''.
The Commentary to the Sentencing Table is amended by inserting at
the end the following:
``Background: The Sentencing Table previously provided four
`zones,' labeled A through D, based on the minimum months of
imprisonment in each cell. The Commission expanded Zone B by
consolidating former Zones B and C. Zone B in the Sentencing Table now
contains all guideline ranges having a minimum term of imprisonment of
at least one but not more than twelve months. Although Zone C was
deleted by its consolidation with Zone B, the Commission decided not to
redesignate Zone D as Zone C, to avoid unnecessary confusion that may
result from different meanings of `Zone C' and `Zone D' through
different editions of the Guidelines Manual.''.
The Commentary to Sec. 5B1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 1(B), in the heading, by striking ``nine months'' and
inserting ``twelve months''; and in Note 2 by striking ``Zone C or D''
and inserting ``Zone D'', and by striking ``ten months'' and inserting
``fifteen months''.
Section 5C1.1 is amended--
in subsection (c) by striking ``subsection (e)'' both places such
term appears and inserting ``subsection (d)'';
by striking subsection (d) as follows:
``(d) If the applicable guideline range is in Zone C of the
Sentencing Table, the minimum term may be satisfied by--
(1) a sentence of imprisonment; or
(2) a sentence of imprisonment that includes a term of supervised
release with a condition that substitutes community confinement or home
detention according to the schedule in subsection (e), provided that at
least one-half of the minimum term is satisfied by imprisonment.'';
and by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (d) and
(e), respectively.
The Commentary to Sec. 5C1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended--
in Note 3 by striking ``nine months'' and inserting ``twelve
months'';
by striking Note 4 as follows:
``4. Subsection (d) provides that where the applicable guideline
range is in Zone C of the Sentencing Table (i.e., the minimum term
specified in the applicable guideline range is ten or twelve months),
the court has two options:
(A) It may impose a sentence of imprisonment.
(B) Or, it may impose a sentence of imprisonment that includes a
term of supervised release with a condition requiring community
confinement or home detention. In such case, at least one-half of the
minimum term specified in the guideline range must be satisfied by
imprisonment, and the remainder of the minimum term specified in the
guideline range must be satisfied by community confinement or home
detention. For example, where the guideline range is 10-16 months, a
sentence of five months imprisonment followed by a term of supervised
release with a condition requiring five months community confinement or
home detention would satisfy the minimum term of imprisonment required
by the guideline range.
The preceding example illustrates a sentence that satisfies the
minimum term of imprisonment required by the guideline range. The
court, of course, may impose a sentence at a higher point within the
guideline range. For example, where the guideline range is 10-16
months, both a sentence of five months imprisonment followed by a term
of supervised release with a condition requiring six months of
community confinement or home detention (under subsection (d)), and a
sentence of ten months imprisonment followed by a term of supervised
release with a condition requiring four months of community confinement
or home detention (also under subsection (d)) would be within the
guideline range.'';
by striking Note 6 as follows:
``6. There may be cases in which a departure from the sentencing
options authorized for Zone C of the Sentencing Table (under which at
least half the minimum term must be satisfied by imprisonment) to the
sentencing options authorized for Zone B of the Sentencing Table (under
which all or most of the minimum term may be satisfied by intermittent
confinement, community confinement, or home detention instead of
imprisonment) is appropriate to accomplish a specific treatment
purpose. Such a departure should be considered only in cases where the
court finds that (A) the defendant is an abuser of narcotics, other
controlled substances, or alcohol, or suffers from a significant mental
illness, and (B) the defendant's criminality is related to the
treatment problem to be addressed.
In determining whether such a departure is appropriate, the court
should consider, among other things, (1) the likelihood that completion
of the treatment program will successfully address the treatment
problem, thereby reducing the risk to the public from further crimes of
the defendant, and (2) whether imposition of less imprisonment than
required by Zone C will increase the risk to the public from further
crimes of the defendant.
Examples: The following examples both assume the applicable
guideline range is 12-18 months and the court departs in accordance
with this application note. Under Zone C rules, the defendant must be
sentenced to at least six months imprisonment. (1) The defendant is a
nonviolent drug offender in Criminal History Category I and probation
is not prohibited by statute. The court departs downward to impose a
sentence of probation, with twelve months of intermittent confinement,
community confinement, or home detention and participation in a
substance abuse treatment program as conditions of probation. (2) The
defendant is convicted of a Class A or B felony, so probation is
prohibited by statute (see Sec. 5B1.1(b)). The court departs downward
to impose a sentence of one month imprisonment, with eleven months in
community confinement or home detention and participation in a
substance abuse treatment program as conditions of supervised
release.'';
by redesignating Notes 5, 7, 8, and 9 as Notes 4, 5, 6, and 7,
respectively;
in Note 4 (as so redesignated) by striking ``Subsection (e)'' and
inserting ``Subsection (d)'';
in Note 5 (as so redesignated) by striking ``subsections (c) and
(d)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)'';
and in Note 7 (as so redesignated) by striking ``Subsection (f)''
and inserting ``Subsection (e)'', and by striking ``subsection (e)''
and inserting ``subsection (d)''.
[[Page 40659]]
The Commentary to Sec. 5F1.2 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 1 by striking ``Electronic monitoring is an appropriate
means of surveillance and ordinarily should be used in connection with
home detention'' and inserting ``Electronic monitoring is an
appropriate means of surveillance for home detention''; and by striking
``may be used so long as they are as effective as electronic
monitoring'' and inserting ``may be used if appropriate''.
The Commentary to Sec. 5F1.2 captioned ``Background'' is amended
by striking ``The Commission has concluded that the surveillance
necessary for effective use of home detention ordinarily requires
electronic monitoring'' and inserting ``The Commission has concluded
that electronic monitoring is an appropriate means of surveillance for
home detention''; and by striking ``the court should be confident that
an alternative form of surveillance will be equally effective'' and
inserting ``the court should be confident that an alternative form of
surveillance is appropriate considering the facts and circumstances of
the defendant's case''.
Issues for Comment
1. The Commission requests comment on whether the zone changes
contemplated by Part B of the proposed amendment should apply to all
offenses, or only to certain categories of offenses. The zone changes
would increase the number of offenders who are eligible under the
guidelines to receive a non-incarceration sentence. Should the
Commission provide a mechanism to exempt certain offenses from these
zone changes? For example, should the Commission provide a mechanism to
exempt public corruption, tax, and other white-collar offenses from
these zone changes (e.g., to reflect a view that it would not be
appropriate to increase the number of public corruption, tax, and other
white-collar offenders who are eligible to receive a non-incarceration
sentence)? If so, what mechanism should the Commission provide, and
what offenses should be covered by it?
2. The proposed amendment would consolidate Zones B and C to create
an expanded Zone B. Such an adjustment would provide probation with
conditions of confinement as a sentencing option for current Zone C
defendants, an option that was not available to such defendants before.
The Commission seeks comment on whether the Commission should provide
additional guidance to address these new Zone B defendants. If so, what
guidance should the Commission provide?
4. Acceptance of Responsibility
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: This proposed amendment is the
result of the Commission's consideration of miscellaneous guideline
application issues, including whether a defendant's denial of relevant
conduct should be considered in determining whether the defendant has
accepted responsibility for purposes of Sec. 3E1.1. See U.S.
Sentencing Comm'n, ``Notice of Final Priorities,'' 82 FR 39949 (Aug.
22, 2017).
Section 3E1.1 (Acceptance of Responsibility) provides for a 2-level
reduction for a defendant who clearly demonstrates acceptance of
responsibility. Application Note 1(A) of Sec. 3E1.1 provides as one of
the appropriate considerations in determining whether a defendant
``clearly demonstrate[d] acceptance of responsibility'' the following:
truthfully admitting the conduct comprising the offense(s) of
conviction, and truthfully admitting or not falsely denying any
additional relevant conduct for which the defendant is accountable
under Sec. 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct). Note that a defendant is not
required to volunteer, or affirmatively admit, relevant conduct
beyond the offense of conviction in order to obtain a reduction
under subsection (a). A defendant may remain silent in respect to
relevant conduct beyond the offense of conviction without affecting
his ability to obtain a reduction under this subsection. However, a
defendant who falsely denies, or frivolously contests, relevant
conduct that the court determines to be true has acted in a manner
inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility;
In addition, Application Note 3 provides further guidance on
evidence that might demonstrate acceptance of responsibility, as
follows:
Entry of a plea of guilty prior to the commencement of trial
combined with truthfully admitting the conduct comprising the
offense of conviction, and truthfully admitting or not falsely
denying any additional relevant conduct for which he is accountable
under Sec. 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct) (see Application Note 1(A)),
will constitute significant evidence of acceptance of responsibility
for the purposes of subsection (a). However, this evidence may be
outweighed by conduct of the defendant that is inconsistent with
such acceptance of responsibility. A defendant who enters a guilty
plea is not entitled to an adjustment under this section as a matter
of right.
The Commission has heard concerns that the Commentary to Sec.
3E1.1 (particularly the provisions cited above) encourages courts to
deny a reduction in sentence when a defendant pleads guilty and accepts
responsibility for the offense of conviction, but unsuccessfully
challenges the presentence report's assessments of relevant conduct.
These commenters suggest this has a chilling effect because defendants
are concerned such objections may jeopardize their eligibility for a
reduction for acceptance of responsibility.
The proposed amendment amends the Commentary to Sec. 3E1.1 to
revise how a defendant's challenge to relevant conduct should be
considered in determining whether the defendant has accepted
responsibility for purposes of the guideline. Specifically, the
proposed amendment would revise Application Note 1(A) by substituting a
new sentence for the sentence that states ``a defendant who falsely
denies, or frivolously contests, relevant conduct that the court
determines to be true has acted in a manner inconsistent with
acceptance of responsibility.'' The proposed amendment includes two
options for the substitute.
Option 1 would provide that ``a defendant may make a non-frivolous
challenge to relevant conduct without affecting his ability to obtain a
reduction.''
Option 2 would provide that ``a defendant may make a challenge to
relevant conduct without affecting his ability to obtain a reduction,
unless the challenge lacks an arguable basis either in law or in
fact.''
An issue for comment is also provided.
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to Sec. 3E1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 1(A) by striking ``However, a defendant who falsely
denies, or frivolously contests, relevant conduct that the court
determines to be true has acted in a manner inconsistent with
acceptance of responsibility'', and inserting the following:
[Option 1:
``In addition, a defendant may make a non-frivolous challenge to
relevant conduct without affecting his ability to obtain a
reduction''.]
[Option 2:
``In addition, a defendant may make a challenge to relevant conduct
without affecting his ability to obtain a reduction, unless the
challenge lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact''.]
Issue for Comment
1. The Commission seeks comment on whether the Commission should
amend the Commentary to Sec. 3E1.1 (Acceptance of Responsibility) to
change or clarify how a defendant's challenge to relevant conduct
should be considered in determining whether a defendant has accepted
responsibility for purposes of
[[Page 40660]]
Sec. 3E1.1. If so, what changes should the Commission make to Sec.
3E1.1?
One of the options included in the proposed amendment, Option 1,
would provide that ``a defendant may make a non-frivolous challenge to
relevant conduct without affecting his ability to obtain a reduction''
under Sec. 3E1.1(a). If the Commission were to adopt Option 1, what
additional guidance, if any, should the Commission provide on the
meaning of ``non-frivolous''? The second option included in the
proposed amendment, Option 2, would provide that ``a defendant may make
a challenge to relevant conduct without affecting his ability to obtain
a reduction, unless the challenge lacks an arguable basis either in law
or in fact.'' If the Commission were to adopt Option 2, should the
Commission provide additional guidance on when a challenge ``lacks an
arguable basis either in law or in fact''? For example, should the
Commission state explicitly that the fact that a challenge is
unsuccessful does not by itself establish that the challenge lacked an
arguable basis either in law or in fact? If the Commission were to
adopt either Option 1 or Option 2, should the challenges covered by the
amendment include informal challenges to relevant conduct during the
sentencing process, whether or not the issues challenged are
determinative to the applicable guideline range? Should the Commission
broaden the proposed provision to address other sentencing
considerations, such as departures or variances? Should the Commission,
instead of adopting either option in the proposed amendment, remove
from Sec. 3E1.1 all references to relevant conduct for which the
defendant is accountable under Sec. 1B1.3, and reference only the
elements of the offense of conviction?
5. Miscellaneous
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: This proposed amendment responds to
recently enacted legislation and miscellaneous guideline issues.
The proposed amendment contains five parts (Parts A through E). The
Commission is considering whether to promulgate any or all of these
parts, as they are not mutually exclusive. They are as follows--
Part A responds to the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015,
Public Law 114-154 (May 16, 2016), by amending Sec. 2B5.3 (Criminal
Infringement of Copyright or Trademark).
Part B responds to the International Megan's Law to Prevent Child
Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of
Traveling Sex Offenders Act, Public Law 114-119 (Feb. 8, 2016), by
amending Sec. 2A3.5 (Failure to Register as a Sex Offender), Sec.
2A3.6 (Aggravated Offenses Relating to Registration as a Sex Offender),
and Appendix A (Statutory Index).
Part C responds to the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the
21st Century Act, Public Law 114-182 (June 22, 2016), by amending
Appendix A (Statutory Index).
Part D amends Sec. 2G1.3 (Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or
Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Transportation of Minors to
Engage in a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct; Travel to
Engage in Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor;
Sex Trafficking of Children; Use of Interstate Facilities to Transport
Information about a Minor) to clarify how the use of a computer
enhancement at subsection (b)(3) interacts with its correlating
commentary.
Part E responds to the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016,
Public Law 114-324 (Dec. 16, 2016), by amending Sec. 5D1.3 (Conditions
of Supervised Release).
(A) Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: Part A of the proposed amendment
responds to the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act of 2015, Public Law
114-154 (May 16, 2016). The primary purpose of the Act is to enable the
Department of Justice to target extraterritorial drug trafficking
activity. Among other things, the Act clarified the mens rea
requirement for offenses related to trafficking in counterfeit drugs,
without changing the statutory penalties associated with such offenses.
The Act amended 18 U.S.C. 2230 (Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or
Services), which prohibits trafficking in a range of goods and
services, including counterfeit drugs. The amended statute is currently
referenced in Appendix A (Statutory Index) of the Guidelines Manual to
Sec. 2B5.3 (Criminal Infringement of Copyright or Trademark).
In particular, the Act made changes relating to counterfeit drugs.
First, the Act amended the penalty provision at section 2320, replacing
the term ``counterfeit drug'' with the phrase ``drug that uses a
counterfeit mark on or in connection with the drug.'' Second, the Act
revised section 2320(f)(6) to define only the term ``drug'' instead of
``counterfeit drug.'' The amended provision defines ``drug'' as ``a
drug, as defined in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act (21 U.S.C. 321).'' The Act did not amend the definition of
``counterfeit mark'' contained in section 2230(f)(1), which provides
that--
the term ``counterfeit mark'' means--
(A) a spurious mark--
(i) that is used in connection with trafficking in any goods,
services, labels, patches, stickers, wrappers, badges, emblems,
medallions, charms, boxes, containers, cans, cases, hangtags,
documentation, or packaging of any type or nature;
(ii) that is identical with, or substantially indistinguishable
from, a mark registered on the principal register in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office and in use, whether or not the
defendant knew such mark was so registered;
(iii) that is applied to or used in connection with the goods or
services for which the mark is registered with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, or is applied to or consists of a
label, patch, sticker, wrapper, badge, emblem, medallion, charm,
box, container, can, case, hangtag, documentation, or packaging of
any type or nature that is designed, marketed, or otherwise intended
to be used on or in connection with the goods or services for which
the mark is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office; and
(iv) the use of which is likely to cause confusion, to cause
mistake, or to deceive; or
(B) a spurious designation that is identical with, or
substantially indistinguishable from, a designation as to which the
remedies of the Lanham Act are made available by reason of section
220506 of title 36 . . . .
Part A of the proposed amendment amends Sec. 2B5.3(b)(5) to
replace the term ``counterfeit drug'' with ``drug that uses a
counterfeit mark on or in connection with the drug.'' The proposed
amendment would also amend the Commentary to Sec. 2B5.3 to delete the
``counterfeit drug'' definition and provide that ``drug'' and
``counterfeit mark'' have the meaning given those terms in 18 U.S.C.
2320(f).
Proposed Amendment
Section 2B5.3(b)(5) is amended by striking ``counterfeit drug'' and
inserting ``drug that uses a counterfeit mark on or in connection with
the drug''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2B5.3 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 1 by striking the third undesignated paragraph as
follows:
`` `Counterfeit drug' has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C.
2320(f)(6).'',
and by inserting after the paragraph that begins ```Counterfeit
military good or service' has the meaning'' the following new
paragraph:
`` `Drug' and `counterfeit mark' have the meaning given those terms
in 18 U.S.C. 2320(f).''.
[[Page 40661]]
(B) International Megan's Law To Prevent Child Exploitation and Other
Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: Part B of the proposed amendment
responds to the International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation
and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex
Offenders Act (``International Megan's Law''), Public Law 114-119 (Feb.
8, 2016). The Act added a new notification requirement to 42 U.S.C.
16914 (Information required in [sex offender] registration). Section
16914 states that sex offenders who are required to register under the
Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) must provide
certain information for inclusion in the sex offender registry. Those
provisions include the offender's name, Social Security number, address
of all residences, name and address where the offender is an employee,
the name and address where the offender is a student, license plate
number and description of any vehicle. The International Megan's Law
added as an additional requirement that the sex offender must provide
``information relating to intended travel of the sex offender outside
of the United States, including any anticipated dates and places of
departure, arrival or return, carrier and flight numbers for air
travel, destination country and address or other contact information
therein, means and purpose of travel, and any other itinerary or other
travel-related information required by the Attorney General.''
The International Megan's Law also added a new criminal offense at
18 U.S.C. 2250(b) (Failure to register). The new subsection (b)
provides that whoever is required to register under SORNA who knowingly
fails to provide the above described information required by SORNA
relating to intended travel in foreign commerce and who engages or
attempts to engage in the intended travel, is subject to a 10-year
statutory maximum penalty. Section 2250 offenses are referenced in
Appendix A (Statutory Index) to Sec. 2A3.5 (Failure to Register as a
Sex Offender).
Part B of the proposed amendment amends Appendix A (Statutory
Index) so the new offenses at 18 U.S.C. 2250(b) are referenced to Sec.
2A3.5. The proposed amendment also brackets the possibility of adding a
new application note to the Commentary to Sec. 2A3.5 providing that
for purposes of Sec. 2A3.5(b), a defendant shall be deemed to be in a
``failure to register status'' during the period in which the defendant
engaged in conduct described in 18 U.S.C. 2250(a) or (b).
Finally, Part B makes clerical changes to Sec. 2A3.6 (Aggravated
Offenses Relating to Registration as a Sex Offender) to reflect the
redesignation of 18 U.S.C. 2250(c) by the International Megan's Law.
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to Sec. 2A3.5 captioned ``Statutory Provision'' is
amended by striking ``Sec. 2250(a)'' and inserting ``Sec. 2250(a),
(b)''.
[The Commentary to Sec. 2A3.5 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended by redesignating Note 2 as Note 3, and by inserting the
following new Note 2:
``2. Application of Subsection (b)(1).--For purposes of subsection
(b)(1), a defendant shall be deemed to be in a `failure to register
status' during the period in which the defendant engaged in conduct
described in 18 U.S.C. 2250(a) or (b).''.]
Section 2A3.6(a) is amended by striking ``Sec. 2250(c)'' and
inserting ``Sec. 2250(d)''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2A3.6 captioned ``Statutory Provisions'' is
amended by striking ``2250(c)'' and inserting ``2250(d)''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2A3.6 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended--
in Note 1 by striking ``Section 2250(c)'' and inserting ``Section
2250(d)'', and by inserting after ``18 U.S.C. 2250(a)'' the following:
``or (b)'';
in Note 3 by striking ``Sec. 2250(c)'' and inserting ``Sec.
2250(d)'';
and in Note 4 by striking ``Sec. 2250(c)'' and inserting ``Sec.
2250(d)''.
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is amended in the line referenced to
18 U.S.C. 2250(a) by striking ``Sec. 2250(a)'' and inserting ``Sec.
2250(a), (b)''; and in the line referenced to 18 U.S.C. 2250(c) by
striking ``Sec. 2250(c)'' and inserting ``Sec. 2250(d)''.
(C) Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: Part C of the proposed amendment
responds to the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st
Century Act, Public Law 114-182 (June 22, 2016). The Act, among other
things, amended section 16 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. 2615) to add a new subsection that provides that any person who
knowingly and willfully violates certain provisions of the Toxic
Substances Control Act and who knows at the time of the violation that
the violation places an individual in imminent danger of death or
bodily injury shall be subject to a fine up to $250,000, imprisonment
of up to 15 years, or both.
Part C of the proposed amendment amends Appendix A (Statutory
Index) so that the new provision, 15 U.S.C. 2615(b)(2), is referenced
to Sec. 2Q1.1 (Knowing Endangerment Resulting From Mishandling
Hazardous or Toxic Substances, Pesticides or Other Pollutants), while
maintaining the reference to Sec. 2Q1.2 (Mishandling of Hazardous or
Toxic Substances or Pesticides; Recordkeeping, Tampering, and
Falsification; Unlawfully Transporting Hazardous Materials in Commerce)
for 15 U.S.C. 2615(b)(1).
Proposed Amendment
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is amended--
in the line referenced to 15 U.S.C. 2615 by striking ``Sec. 2615''
and inserting ``Sec. 2615(b)(1)'';
and by inserting before the line referenced to 15 U.S.C. 6821 the
following new line reference:
``15 U.S.C. 2615(b)(2) 2Q1.1''.
(D) Use of a Computer Enhancement in Sec. 2G1.3
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: Part D of the proposed amendment
clarifies how the use of a computer enhancement at Sec. 2G1.3(b)(3)
interacts with its corresponding commentary at Application Note 4.
Section 2G1.3 (Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual
Conduct with a Minor; Transportation of Minors to Engage in a
Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct; Travel to Engage in
Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sex
Trafficking of Children; Use of Interstate Facilities to Transport
Information about a Minor) applies to several offenses involving the
transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Subsection
(b)(3) of Sec. 2G1.3 provides a 2-level enhancement if--
the offense involved the use of a computer or an interactive
computer service to (A) persuade, induce, entice, coerce, or
facilitate the travel of, the minor to engage in prohibited sexual
conduct; or (B) entice, encourage, offer, or solicit a person to
engage in prohibited sexual conduct with the minor.
Application Note 4 to Sec. 2G1.3 sets forth guidance on this
enhancement providing as follows:
Subsection (b)(3) is intended to apply only to the use of a
computer or an interactive computer service to communicate directly
with a minor or with a person who exercises custody, care, or
supervisory control of the minor. Accordingly, the enhancement in
subsection (b)(3) would not apply to the use of a computer or an
interactive computer
[[Page 40662]]
service to obtain airline tickets for the minor from an airline's
Internet site.
An application issue has arisen as to whether Application Note 4,
by failing to distinguish between the two prongs of subsection (b)(3),
prohibits application of the enhancement where a computer was used to
solicit a third party to engage in prohibited sexual conduct with a
minor.
Most courts to have addressed this issue have concluded that
Application Note 4 is inconsistent with the language of Sec.
2G1.3(b)(3), and have permitted the application of the enhancement for
use of a computer in third party solicitation cases. See, e.g., United
States v. Cramer, 777 F.3d 597, 606 (2d Cir. 2015) (``We conclude that
Application Note 4 is plainly inconsistent with subsection (b)(3)(B) .
. . . The plain language of subsection (b)(3)(B) is clear, and there is
no indication that the drafters of the Guidelines intended to limit
this plain language through Application Note 4.''); United States v.
McMillian, 777 F.3d 444, 449-50 (7th Cir. 2015) (``[The defendant]
points out that Application Note 4 states that `Subsection (b)(3) is
intended to apply only to the use of a computer or an interactive
computer service to communicate directly with a minor or with a person
who exercises custody, care, or supervisory control of the minor.['] .
. . . But the note is wrong. The guideline section provides a 2-level
enhancement whenever the defendant uses a computer to `entice,
encourage, offer, or solicit a person to engage in prohibited sexual
conduct with the minor' . . . . When an application note clashes with
the guideline, the guideline prevails.''); United States v. Hill, 783
F.3d 842, 846 (11th Cir. 2015) (``Because the application note is
inconsistent with the plain language of U.S.S.G. Sec. 2G1.3(b)(3)(B),
the plain language of the guideline controls.''); United States v.
Pringler, 765 F.3d 445, 455 (5th Cir. 2014) (``[W]e hold that the
commentary in application note 4 is `inconsistent with' Guideline Sec.
2G1.3(b)(3)(B), and we therefore follow the plain language of the
Guideline alone.'').
Part D of the proposed amendment would amend the Commentary to
Sec. 2G1.3 to clarify that the guidance contained in Application Note
4 refers only to subsection (b)(3)(A) and does not control the
application of the enhancement for use of a computer in third party
solicitation cases (as provided in subsection (b)(3)(B)).
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to Sec. 2G1.3 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 4 by striking ``(b)(3)'' each place such term appears
and inserting ``(b)(3)(A)''.
(E) Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: Part E of the proposed amendment
responds to the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016, Public Law
114-324 (Dec. 16, 2016). The Act made statutory changes to protect the
rights of crime victims and to address the use of DNA and other
forensic evidence. Among other things, the Act amended 18 U.S.C. 3583,
the statute addressing supervised release. Section 3583(d) requires a
court, when imposing a sentence of supervised release, to impose
certain specified conditions of supervised release. The Act amended
section 3583(d) to require the court to include, as one of those
conditions, ``that the defendant make restitution in accordance with
sections 3663 and 3663A [of Title 18, United States Code], or any other
statute authorizing a sentence of restitution.''
Part E of the proposed amendment amends the ``mandatory'' condition
of supervised release set forth in subsection (a)(6)(A) of Sec. 5D1.3
(Conditions of Supervised Release). It conforms Sec. 5D1.3(a)(6)(A) to
section 3583(d) as amended by the Justice for All Reauthorization Act.
Proposed Amendment
Section 5D1.3(a)(6)(A) is amended by striking ``18 U.S.C. 2248,
2259, 2264, 2327, 3663, 3663A, and 3664'' and inserting ``18 U.S.C.
3663 and 3663A, or any other statute authorizing a sentence of
restitution''.
6. Marihuana Equivalency
Synopsis of Proposed Amendment: This proposed amendment makes
technical changes to Sec. 2D1.1 (Unlawful Manufacturing, Importing,
Exporting, or Trafficking (Including Possession with Intent to Commit
These Offenses); Attempt or Conspiracy) to replace the term ``marihuana
equivalency'' which is used in the Drug Equivalency Tables when
determining penalties for certain controlled substances.
The Commentary to Sec. 2D1.1 sets forth a series of Drug
Equivalency Tables. These tables provide a conversion factor termed
``marihuana equivalency'' for certain controlled substances that is
used to determine the offense level for cases in which the controlled
substance involved in the offense is not specifically listed in the
Drug Quantity Table, or where there is more than one controlled
substance involved in the offense (whether or not listed in the Drug
Quantity Table). See Sec. 2D1.1, comment. (n.8). The Drug Equivalency
Tables are separated by drug type and schedule.
In a case involving a controlled substance that is not specifically
referenced in the Drug Quantity Table, the base offense level is
determined by using the Drug Equivalency Tables to convert the quantity
of the controlled substance involved in the offense to its marihuana
equivalency, then finding the offense level in the Drug Quantity Table
that corresponds to that quantity of marihuana. In a case involving
more than one controlled substance, each of the drugs is converted into
its marihuana equivalency, the converted quantities are added, and the
aggregate quantity is used to find the offense level in the Drug
Quantity Table.
The Commission received comment expressing concern that the term
``marihuana equivalency'' is misleading and results in confusion for
individuals not fully versed in the guidelines. In particular, some
commenters suggested that the Commission should replace ``marihuana
equivalency'' with another term.
The proposed amendment would amend Sec. 2D1.1 to replace
``marihuana equivalency'' as the conversion factor for determining
penalties for controlled substances that are not specifically
referenced in the Drug Quantity Table or when combining differing
controlled substances, with a new value termed ``converted drug
weight.'' Specifically, the proposed amendment would add the new
conversion factor to all provisions of the Drug Quantity Table at Sec.
2D1.1(c). In addition, the proposed amendment would change the title of
the ``Drug Equivalency Tables'' to ``Drug Conversion Tables,'' and
revise the commentary to Sec. 2D1.1 to change all references to
marihuana as a conversion factor and replace it with the new value.
All changes set forth in the proposed amendment are not intended as
a substantive change in policy for Sec. 2D1.1.
Proposed Amendment
Section 2D1.1(c)(1) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` 90,000 KG or more of Converted Drug Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(2) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 30,000 KG but less than 90,000 KG of Converted
Drug Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(3) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line
[[Page 40663]]
referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by adding at
the end the following:
`` At least 10,000 KG but less than 30,000 KG of Converted
Drug Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(4) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 3,000 KG but less than 10,000 KG of Converted
Drug Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(5) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 1,000 KG but less than 3,000 KG of Converted
Drug Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(6) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 700 KG but less than 1,000 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(7) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 400 KG but less than 700 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(8) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 100 KG but less than 400 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(9) is amended by striking the period at the end of
the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and by
adding at the end the following:
`` At least 80 KG but less than 100 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(10) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and
by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 60 KG but less than 80 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(11) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and
by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 40 KG but less than 60 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(12) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and
by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 20 KG but less than 40 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(13) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Flunitrazepam and inserting a semicolon, and
by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 10 KG but less than 20 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(14) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Schedule IV substances (except Flunitrazepam)
and inserting a semicolon, and by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 5 KG but less than 10 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(15) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Schedule IV substances (except Flunitrazepam)
and inserting a semicolon, and by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 2.5 KG but less than 5 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(16) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Schedule V substances and inserting a
semicolon, and by adding at the end the following:
`` At least 1 KG but less than 2.5 KG of Converted Drug
Weight.''.
Section 2D1.1(c)(17) is amended by striking the period at the end
of the line referenced to Schedule V substances and inserting a
semicolon, and by adding at the end the following:
`` Less than 1 KG of Converted Drug Weight.''.
The annotation to Sec. 2D1.1(c) captioned ``Notes to Drug Quantity
Table'' is amended by inserting at the end the following new Note (J):
``(J) The term `Converted Drug Weight,' for purposes of this
guideline, refers to a nominal reference designation that is to be used
as a conversion factor in the Drug Conversion Tables set forth in the
Commentary below, to determine the offense level for controlled
substances that are not specifically referenced in the Drug Quantity
Table or when combining differing controlled substances.''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2D1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended--
in Note 6 by striking ``marihuana equivalency'' and inserting
``converted drug weight'' and by inserting after ``the most closely
related controlled substance referenced in this guideline.'' the
following: ``See Application Note 8.'';
in the heading of Note 8 by striking ``Drug Equivalency'' and
inserting ``Drug Conversion'';
in Note 8(A) by striking ``Drug Equivalency Tables'' both places
such term appears and inserting ``Drug Conversion Tables''; by striking
``to convert the quantity of the controlled substance involved in the
offense to its equivalent quantity of marihuana'' and inserting ``to
find the converted drug weight of the controlled substance involved in
the offense''; by striking ``Find the equivalent quantity of
marihuana'' and inserting ``Find the corresponding converted drug
weight''; by striking ``Use the offense level that corresponds to the
equivalent quantity of marihuana'' and inserting ``Use the offense
level that corresponds to the converted drug weight determined above'';
by striking ``an equivalent quantity of 5 kilograms of marihuana'' and
inserting ``5 kilogram of converted drug weight''; and by striking
``the equivalent quantity of marihuana would be 500 kilograms'' and
inserting ``the converted drug weight would be 500 kilograms'';
in Note 8(B) by striking ``Drug Equivalency Tables'' each place
such term appears and inserting ``Drug Conversion Tables''; by striking
``convert each of the drugs to its marihuana equivalent'' and inserting
``convert each of the drugs to its converted drug weight''; by striking
``For certain types of controlled substances, the marihuana
equivalencies'' and inserting ``For certain types of controlled
substances, the converted drug weights assigned''; by striking ``e.g.,
the combined equivalent weight of all Schedule V controlled substances
shall not exceed 2.49 kilograms of marihuana'' and inserting ``e.g.,
the combined converted weight of all Schedule V controlled substances
shall not exceed 2.49 kilograms of converted drug weight''; by striking
``determine the marihuana equivalency for each schedule separately''
and inserting ``determine the converted drug weight for each schedule
separately''; and by striking ``Then add the marihuana equivalencies to
determine the combined marihuana equivalency'' and inserting ``Then add
the converted drug weights to determine the combined converted drug
weight'';
in Note 8(C)(i) by striking ``of marihuana'' each place such term
appears and inserting ``of converted drug weight''; and by striking
``The total is therefore equivalent to 95 kilograms'' and inserting
``The total therefore converts to 95 kilograms'';
in Note 8(C)(ii) by striking the following:
``The defendant is convicted of selling 500 grams of marihuana
(Level 6) and 10,000 units of diazepam (Level 6). The diazepam, a
Schedule IV drug, is equivalent to 625 grams of marihuana. The total,
1.125 kilograms of marihuana, has an offense level of 8 in the Drug
Quantity Table.'',
and inserting the following:
[[Page 40664]]
``The defendant is convicted of selling 500 grams of marihuana
(Level 6) and 10,000 units of diazepam (Level 6). The amount of
marihuana converts to 500 grams of converted drug weight. The diazepam,
a Schedule IV drug, converts to 625 grams of converted drug weight. The
total, 1.125 kilograms of converted drug weight, has an offense level
of 8 in the Drug Quantity Table.'';
in Note 8(C)(iii) by striking ``is equivalent'' both places such
term appears and inserting ``converts''; by striking ``of marihuana''
each place such term appears and inserting ``of converted drug
weight''; and by striking ``The total is therefore equivalent'' and
inserting ``The total therefore converts'';
in Note 8(C)(iv) by striking ``marihuana equivalency'' each place
such term appears and inserting ``converted drug weight''; by striking
``76 kilograms of marihuana'' and inserting ``76 kilograms''; by
striking ``79.99 kilograms of marihuana'' both places such term appears
and inserting ``79.99 kilograms of converted drug weight''; by striking
``equivalent weight'' each place such term appears and inserting
``converted weight''; by striking ``9.99 kilograms of marihuana'' and
inserting ``9.99 kilograms''; and by striking ``2.49 kilograms of
marihuana'' and inserting ``2.49 kilograms'';
and in Note 8(D)--
in the heading, by striking ``Drug Equivalency'' and inserting
``Drug Conversion'';
under the heading relating to Schedule I or II Opiates, by striking
the heading as follows:
``Schedule I or II Opiates*'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Schedule I or II Opiates*............... Converted Drug Weight'';
and by striking ``of marihuana'' each place such term appears;
under the heading relating Cocaine and Other Schedule I and II
Stimulants (and their immediate precursors), by striking the heading as
follows:
``Cocaine and Other Schedule I and II Stimulants (and their
immediate precursors)*'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Cocaine and Other Schedule I and II Converted Drug Weight'';
Stimulants (and their immediate
precursors)*.
and by striking ``of marihuana'' each place such term appears;
under the heading relating to LSD, PCP, and Other Schedule I and II
Hallucinogens (and their immediate precursors), by striking the heading
as follows:
``LSD, PCP, and Other Schedule I and II Hallucinogens (and their
immediate precursors)*'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``LSD, PCP, and Other Schedule I and II Converted Drug Weight'';
Hallucinogens (and their immediate
precursors)*.
and by striking ``of marihuana'' each place such term appears;
under the heading relating to Schedule I Marihuana, by striking the
heading as follows:
``Schedule I Marihuana'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Schedule I Marihuana.................... Converted Drug Weight'';
and by striking ``of marihuana'' each place such term appears;
under the heading relating to Flunitrazepam, by striking the
heading as follows:
``Flunitrazepam**'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Flunitrazepam**......................... Converted Drug Weight'';
and by striking ``of marihuana'';
under the heading relating to Schedule I or II Depressants (except
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid), by striking the heading as follows:
``Schedule I or II Depressants (except gamma-hydroxybutyric
acid)'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Schedule I or II Depressants (except Converted Drug Weight'';
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid).
and by striking ``of marihuana'';
under the heading relating to Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid, by
striking the heading as follows:
``Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Gamma-hydroxybutyric Acid............... Converted Drug Weight'';
and by striking ``of marihuana'';
under the heading relating to Schedule III Substances (except
ketamine), by striking the heading as follows:
``Schedule III Substances (except ketamine)***'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Schedule III Substances (except Converted Drug Weight'';
ketamine)***.
by striking ``1 gm of marihuana'' and inserting ``1 gm''; by
striking ``equivalent weight'' and inserting ``converted weight''; and
by striking ``79.99 kilograms of marihuana'' and inserting ``79.99
kilograms of converted drug weight'';
under the heading relating to Ketamine, by striking the heading as
follows:
``Ketamine'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Ketamine................................ Converted Drug Weight'';
and by striking ``of marihuana'';
under the heading relating to Schedule IV Substances (except
flunitrazepam), by striking the heading as follows:
``Schedule IV Substances (except flunitrazepam)*****'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Schedule IV Substances (except Converted Drug Weight'';
flunitrazepam) *****.
by striking ``0.0625 gm of marihuana'' and inserting ``0.0625 gm'';
by striking ``equivalent weight'' and inserting ``converted weight'';
and by striking ``9.99 kilograms of marihuana'' and inserting ``9.99
kilograms of converted drug weight'';
under the heading relating to Schedule V Substances, by striking
the heading as follows:
``Schedule V Substances******'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Schedule V Substances******............. Converted Drug Weight'';
by striking ``0.00625 gm of marihuana'' and inserting ``0.00625
gm''; by striking ``equivalent weight'' and inserting ``converted
weight''; and by striking ``2.49 kilograms of marihuana'' and inserting
``2.49 kilograms of converted drug weight'';
under the heading relating to List I Chemicals (relating to the
manufacture of amphetamine or methamphetamine), by striking the heading
as follows:
``List I Chemicals (relating to the manufacture of amphetamine or
methamphetamine)*******'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``List I Chemicals (relating to the Converted Drug Weight'';
manufacture of amphetamine or
methamphetamine)*******.
and by striking ``of marihuana'' each place such term appears;
under the heading relating to Date Rape Drugs (except
flunitrazepam, GHB,
[[Page 40665]]
or ketamine), by striking the heading as follows:
``Date Rape Drugs (except flunitrazepam, GHB, or ketamine)'',
and inserting the following new heading:
``Date Rape Drugs (except flunitrazepam, Converted Drug Weight'';
GHB, or ketamine).
and by striking ``marihuana'' each place such term appears;
and in the text before the heading relating to Measurement
Conversion Table, by striking ``To facilitate conversions to drug
equivalencies'' and inserting ``To facilitate conversions to converted
drug weights''.
7. Technical Amendment
Synopsis of Amendment: This proposed amendment makes various
technical changes to the Guidelines Manual.
Part A of the proposed amendment makes certain clarifying changes
to two guidelines. First, the proposed amendment amends Chapter One,
Part A, Subpart 1(4)(b) (Departures) to provide an explanatory note
addressing the fact that Sec. 5K2.19 (Post-Sentencing Rehabilitative
Efforts) was deleted by Amendment 768, effective November 1, 2012.
Second, the proposed amendment makes minor clarifying changes to
Application Note 2(A) to Sec. 2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and
Fraud), to make clear that, for purposes of subsection (a)(1)(A), an
offense is ``referenced to this guideline'' if Sec. 2B1.1 is the
applicable Chapter Two guideline specifically referenced in Appendix A
(Statutory Index) for the offense of conviction.
Part B of the proposed amendment makes technical changes in
Sec. Sec. 2Q1.3 (Mishandling of Other Environmental Pollutants;
Recordkeeping, Tampering, and Falsification), 2R1.1 (Bid-Rigging,
Price-Fixing or Market-Allocation Agreements Among Competitors), 4A1.2
(Definitions and Instructions for Computing Criminal History), and
4B1.4 (Armed Career Criminal), to correct title references to Sec.
4A1.3 (Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History Category
(Policy Statement)).
Part C of the proposed amendment makes clerical changes to--
(1) the Commentary to Sec. 1B1.13 (Reduction in Term of
Imprisonment Under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1)(A) (Policy Statement)), to
correct a typographical error by inserting a missing word in
Application Note 4;
(2) subsection (d)(6) to Sec. 2D1.11 (Unlawfully Distributing,
Importing, Exporting or Possessing a Listed Chemical; Attempt or
Conspiracy), to correct a typographical error in the line referencing
Pseudoephedrine;
(3) subsection (e)(2) to Sec. 2D1.11 (Unlawfully Distributing,
Importing, Exporting or Possessing a Listed Chemical; Attempt or
Conspiracy), to correct a punctuation mark under the heading relating
to List I Chemicals;
(4) the Commentary to Sec. 2M2.1 (Destruction of, or Production of
Defective, War Material, Premises, or Utilities) captioned ``Statutory
Provisions,'' to add a missing section symbol and a reference to
Appendix A (Statutory Index);
(5) the Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.1 (Knowing Endangerment Resulting
From Mishandling Hazardous or Toxic Substances, Pesticides or Other
Pollutants) captioned ``Statutory Provisions,'' to add a missing
reference to 42 U.S.C. 7413(c)(5) and a reference to Appendix A
(Statutory Index);
(6) the Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.2 (Mishandling of Hazardous or
Toxic Substances or Pesticides; Recordkeeping, Tampering, and
Falsification; Unlawfully Transporting Hazardous Materials in Commerce)
captioned ``Statutory Provisions,'' to add a specific reference to 42
U.S.C. 7413(c)(1)-(4);
(7) the Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.3 (Mishandling of Other
Environmental Pollutants; Recordkeeping, Tampering, and Falsification)
captioned ``Statutory Provisions,'' to add a specific reference to 42
U.S.C. 7413(c)(1)-(4);
(8) subsection (a)(4) to Sec. 5D1.3. (Conditions of Supervised
Release), to change an inaccurate reference to ``probation'' to
``supervised release''; and
(9) the lines referencing ``18 U.S.C. 371'' and ``18 U.S.C. 1591''
in Appendix A (Statutory Index), to rearrange the order of certain
Chapter Two guidelines references to place them in proper numerical
order.
(A) Clarifying Changes
Proposed Amendment
Chapter One, Part A is amended--
in Subpart 1(4)(b) (Departures) by inserting an asterisk after
``Sec. 5K2.19 (Post-Sentencing Rehabilitative Efforts)'', and by
inserting after the first paragraph the following new paragraph:
``*Note: Section 5K2.19 (Post-Sentencing Rehabilitative Efforts)
was deleted by Amendment 768, effective November 1, 2012. (See USSG
App. C, amendment 768.)'';
and in the note at the end of Subpart 1(4)(d) (Probation and Split
Sentences) by striking ``Supplement to Appendix C'' and inserting
``USSG App. C''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2B1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 2(A)(i) by striking ``as determined under the
provisions of Sec. 1B1.2 (Applicable Guidelines) for the offense of
conviction'' and inserting the following: ``specifically referenced in
Appendix A (Statutory Index) for the offense of conviction, as
determined under the provisions of Sec. 1B1.2 (Applicable
Guidelines)''.
(B) Title References to Sec. 4A1.3
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.3 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 8 by striking ``Adequacy of Criminal History Category''
and inserting ``Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2R1.1 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 7 by striking ``Adequacy of Criminal History Category''
and inserting ``Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History
Category (Policy Statement)''.
Section 4A1.2 is amended in subsections (h), (i), and (j) by
striking ``Adequacy of Criminal History Category'' each place such term
appears and inserting ``Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal
History Category (Policy Statement)''.
The Commentary to Sec. 4A1.2 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Notes 6 and 8 by striking ``Adequacy of Criminal History
Category'' both places such term appears and inserting ``Departures
Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History Category (Policy Statement)''.
The Commentary to Sec. 4B1.4 captioned ``Background'' is amended
by striking ``Adequacy of Criminal History Category'' and inserting
``Departures Based on Inadequacy of Criminal History Category (Policy
Statement)''.
(C) Clerical Changes
Proposed Amendment
The Commentary to Sec. 1B1.13 captioned ``Application Notes'' is
amended in Note 4 by striking ``factors set forth 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)''
and inserting ``factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a)''.
Section 2D1.11 is amended--
in subsection (d)(6) by striking ``Pseuodoephedrine'' and inserting
``Pseudoephedrine'';
and in subsection (e)(2), under the heading relating to List I
Chemicals, by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon.
The Commentary to Sec. 2M2.1 captioned ``Statutory Provisions'' is
amended by striking ``Sec. 2153'' and inserting ``Sec. Sec. 2153'',
and by inserting at
[[Page 40666]]
the end the following: ``For additional statutory provision(s), see
Appendix A (Statutory Index).''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.1 captioned ``Statutory Provisions'' is
amended by striking ``42 U.S.C. 6928(e)'' and inserting ``42 U.S.C.
6928(e), 7413(c)(5)'', and by inserting at the end the following: ``For
additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.2 captioned ``Statutory Provisions'' is
amended by striking ``7413'' and inserting ``7413(c)(1)-(4)''.
The Commentary to Sec. 2Q1.3 captioned ``Statutory Provisions'' is
amended by striking ``7413'' and inserting ``7413(c)(1)-(4)''.
Section 5D1.3(a)(4) is amended by striking ``release on probation''
and inserting ``release on supervised release''.
Appendix A (Statutory Index) is amended in the line referenced to
18 U.S.C. 371 by rearranging the guidelines to place them in proper
numerical order; and in the line referencing 18 U.S.C. 1591 by
rearranging the guidelines to place them in proper numerical order.
[FR Doc. 2017-18076 Filed 8-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 2210-40-P