Supervised Release - Determining the Sentence

offense is—

(1) any offense listed in 18 U.S.C. § 2332b(g)(5)(B), the commission of which resulted in, or created a foreseeable risk of, death or serious bodily injury to another person; or

(2) a sex offense.

(Policy Statement) If the instant offense of conviction is a sex offense, however, the statutory maximum term of supervised release is recommended.

(c) The term of supervised release imposed shall be not less than any statutorily required term of supervised release.

Commentary

Application Notes:

1. Definition.—For purposes of this guideline, "sex offense" means (A) an offense, perpetrated against a minor, under (i) chapter 109A of title 18, United States Code; (ii) chapter 110 of such title, not including a recordkeeping offense; or (iii) chapter 117 of such title, not including transmitting information about a minor or filing a factual statement about an alien individual; or (B) an attempt or a conspiracy to commit any offense described in subdivisions (A)(i) through (iii) of this note.

2. Safety Valve Cases.—A defendant who qualifies under §5C1.2 (Limitation on Applicability of Statutory Minimum Sentence in Certain Cases) is not subject to any statutory minimum sentence of supervised release. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). In such a case, the term of supervised release shall be determined under subsection (a).

3. Substantial Assistance Cases.—Upon motion of the Government, a defendant who has provided substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense may be sentenced to a term of supervised release that is less than any minimum required by statute or the guidelines. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e), §5K1.1 (Substantial Assistance to Authorities).

Background: This section specifies the length of a term of supervised release that is to be imposed. Subsection (b) applies to statutes, such as the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, that require imposition of a specific minimum term of supervised release.

Historical Note:: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective January 15, 1988 (see Appendix C, amendment 52); November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendment 302); November 1, 1995 (see Appendix C, amendment 529); November 1, 1997 (see Appendix C, amendment 570); November 1, 2001 (see Appendix C, amendment 615); November 1, 2002 (see Appendix C, amendments 637 and 646); November 1, 2004 (see Appendix C, amendment 664); November 1, 2005 (see Appendix C, amendment 679).

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Last reviewed October 2024