Retroactive Guidelines Amendments Must Apply to Individuals Who Receive Below-Guidelines Sentences to Protect the Individualized Sentencing Required by Federal Sentencing Statutes

Abstract

Retroactive amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, such as Amendment 821 to the calculation of criminal history, confer discretion on judges to reduce sentences when the Sentencing Commission determines that a guideline is overly harsh. The statute on retroactive amendments, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), authorizes modification of sentences “based on” the pre-amendment guidelines range. From the time of the initial Commission until 2011, all defendants whose guidelines range calculations included the amended guideline were eligible for a comparably lower sentence, regardless of whether the sentence was below-, within-, or over the guidelines range, under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10. But in response to Booker, the Commission amended the policy statement in 2011 to bar from eligibility persons who received below-guidelines sentences, whether by downward variance or departure. This change reflected the earlier Commission’s hostility to Booker variances under the advisory guidelines and conflicts with subsequent Supreme Court authority holding that downward variances are “based on” the guidelines range within the meaning of § 3582(c)(2). By disqualifying those who had grounds for below-guidelines sentences, the Commission fails to follow statutory directives regarding individualized sentencing and avoidance of unwarranted disparities. The exclusion of persons who established that downward departure or variance was warranted under the overly harsh pre-amendment guidelines is irrational and unfair, apparently based on an anachronistic attachment to the mandatory guidelines. The Commission should amend its policy statement without delay to recognize eligibility for all defendants whose sentences are “based on” the guidelines range within the broad meaning of the statute.