| name | sentencing-guidelines |
| title | Sentencing Guideline Analysis |
| description | Calculates federal and state sentencing guideline ranges with precise USSG citations, including base offense levels, specific offense characteristics, Chapter 3 adjustments, criminal history categories, departures, variances, and § 3553(a) factors. Use when calculating sentencing ranges, preparing sentencing memoranda, analyzing presentence reports, or developing sentencing advocacy strategy. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/sentencing-guidelines |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | criminal |
| language | en |
Sentencing Guideline Analysis
Produces a complete sentencing guideline calculation and strategic analysis for federal or state criminal matters.
Prerequisites
Gather before starting:
- Charging documents — indictment/information with counts and statutes
- PSR — if available; note objections
- Criminal history — prior convictions, sentences, dates of offense/release
- Plea agreement — stipulated guidelines, § 5K1.1 provisions
- Offense conduct — factual basis, relevant conduct under § 1B1.3
- Jurisdiction — federal (district/circuit) or state (sentencing scheme)
Quick Start
For a standard federal calculation:
- Identify the offense guideline (USSG Ch. 2) for each count
- Apply specific offense characteristics and cross-references
- Apply Chapter 3 adjustments (victim, role, obstruction, acceptance)
- Group multiple counts under §§ 3D1.1–3D1.5
- Calculate criminal history category (§ 4A1.1)
- Look up advisory range in Sentencing Table (Ch. 5, Pt. A)
- Check statutory constraints (mandatory minimums/maximums)
- Evaluate departures and § 3553(a) variance arguments
Core Workflow
Step 1: Executive Summary
Produce a summary table covering: defendant/case number, counts with statute citations, total offense level, criminal history category (I–VI), advisory range, statutory range, and recommended position (below/within/above with rationale).
Step 2: Base Offense Level Calculation
For each count, calculate stepwise in a table:
| Step | USSG Section | Description | Level |
|---|
| Base Offense Level | § 2X#.# | Offense guideline | +## |
| SOC | § 2X#.#(b)(#) | Each specific offense characteristic | +/- ## |
| Cross-reference | § 2X#.#(c)(#) | If applicable | +/- ## |
| Adjusted BOL | | | ## |
Step 3: Chapter 3 Adjustments
| Adjustment | USSG Section | Level |
|---|
