Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Federal Sentencing Guidelines VI

OK - going back to the Federal sentencing table again - look at the vertical line.

     The vertical line represents the severity of the criminal offense of which the defendant is accused.  The numbers range from 0-43.  Obviously, the higher the number, the more severe the offense.  Therefore, if a person is charged with a crime with an offense level of 5 (unlikely since the Feds only pursue the most severe crimes), the person will face 0-6 monthis in Federal prison (if the person only has a I criminal history).  If the person is charged with a crime with an offense level of 27, he is looking at 70-87 months in Federal prison (once again if the person only has a I criminal history). 

    So, by looking at the horizontal line (criminal history) and the vertical line (severity of the crime of which the person is accused), the defendant can get a reasonable idea of how much time he is facing for the offense(s).

     This is vastly different from Texas state criminal courts.  For example, a 2nd degree felony carris with it a punishment range of 2-20 years.  Obviously, this leaves open a vast amount of time of which is much narrower in the Federal system. 


NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

                                             


 

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

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