Sentencing Guidelines Resource Center
![Person typing on laptop with sentencing guidelines grid on the screen](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/sentencing-home-feature.jpg?h=7acbc861&itok=X58oGI9_)
The Robina Institute’s Sentencing Guidelines Resource Center provides information and comparative analysis about U.S. sentencing guidelines systems, which are standards designed to establish rational and consistent sentencing practices within a particular jurisdiction. For detailed information about how we define “guidelines systems,” see What are Sentencing Guidelines? The Resource Center collection includes in-depth information about sentencing guidelines and commissions and summaries of important interpretive case law. The Center also provides more limited information about states that have sentencing commissions authorized to study and make recommendations on sentencing issues, but no mandate to develop sentencing guidelines. The purpose of the Sentencing Guidelines Resource Center is to facilitate the exchange and sharing of information, expertise, and experience with sentencing guidelines; to educate on issues related to sentencing policy, guidelines, and commissions; to promote multi-jurisdictional comparative research and policy analysis; and to promote the adoption and retention of best practices in sentencing guidelines systems.
The Sentencing Guidelines Resource Center was made possible by generous funding from the Robina Foundation.
Contact Us
Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice
[email protected]
612-626-6600
Team
Project Work
![Outline of the United States](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/United%20States%20Outline.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=kTGlMOoS)
Comparing Key Elements of Guidelines Systems
![Courthouse](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/courthouse.jpg?h=4a7d1ed4&itok=4kRySTDF)
What Are Sentencing Guidelines?
![Alexis Watts](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/alw_image_1_0.jpg?h=144db96a&itok=-he6CeH_)
In Depth: Sentencing Guidelines and Discretionary Parole Release
![Richard Frase](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/frase.richard.935.jpg?h=cd1cc0bc&itok=4qUf1siX)
Prior Record Enhancements: High Costs, Uncertain Benefits
![Kevin R. Reitz](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-02/conference2015tn097_0.jpg?h=bc816b12&itok=770r40N0)
New Model Penal Code for Criminal Sentencing Approved by the American Law Institute: Comprehensive Reform Recommendations for State Legislatures
![Julian Roberts](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/Julian%20Roberts_3.jpeg?h=642dcc68&itok=oapWWHAx)
Public Attitudes Regarding Look-Back Limits: Findings from New Robina Institute Research
![Man in grey suit speaking to another person](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/Richard%20Frase_0.jpeg?h=1fa21b26&itok=lC-2Acl7)
Criminal History Sentencing Enhancements Imprison Too Many Aging, Low-Risk Offenders
![Richard Frase](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/frase.richard.935.jpg?h=cd1cc0bc&itok=4qUf1siX)
How Sentencing Guidelines and Other Reforms Can Reduce Unfair Penalties Imposed on Offenders Found Guilty At Trial
![Rhys Hester](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-01/rhester.jpg?h=cfd0566d&itok=tiptavmS)
Sentencing as a Human Process
![Alexis Watts](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/alw_image_1_0.jpg?h=144db96a&itok=-he6CeH_)
The Composition of Sentencing Commissions
![Kelly Lyn Mitchell](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-01/kmitchell.jpg?h=f9b29ba9&itok=TlNinmef)
The Importance of Case Law in Understanding How Sentencing Guidelines Work
![Alexis Watts](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-02/alexiswatts.jpg?h=9d71ce19&itok=4Igear3p)
Timelines of Sentencing Commissions and Sentencing Guidelines Enactments: 1978 to the Present
![Julian Roberts](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/Julian%20Roberts_2.jpeg?h=642dcc68&itok=otDzErnD)
Attitudes to Prior Record Sentencing Enhancements: What do the Public Think?
![Blue sentencing grid](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-06/grid_2_3.png?h=8abcec71&itok=P30juBq1)
Criminal History Enhancements Sourcebook
![Man in grey suit speaking to another person](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/Richard%20Frase_0.jpeg?h=1fa21b26&itok=lC-2Acl7)
Varying Binding Effects of Guidelines: The Mandatory-to-Advisory Continuum
![Richard Frase](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-05/frase.richard.935.jpg?h=cd1cc0bc&itok=4qUf1siX)
Why Have U.S. State and Federal Jurisdictions Enacted Sentencing Guidelines?
![Kelly Lyn Mitchell](/sites/robinainstitute.umn.edu/files/styles/800x450/public/2022-01/kmitchell.jpg?h=f9b29ba9&itok=TlNinmef)