The Commission generally does not post public comment on its website. We have posted below the majority of the public comment most relevant to the development of guideline sentencing policy for individuals (as opposed to organizations).  Note that some of the Commission’s files include both public comment and written testimony prepared for a public hearing.  Other files include only public comment.

Be sure to check the Testimony page for other written testimony relevant to the particular amendment cycle or public hearing you are researching.

NOTE:  We still have just a few batches of public comment to post from previous years, but they should be up very soon.  For more recent years, comments by the Federal Defenders are posted at www.fd.org.  

• Public Comment in Response to April, 25 1986 Letter Requesting Comment on Offender Characteristics (Including Criminal History)
• Public Comment in Response to June 17, 1986 Letter Requesting Comment on Probation, Fines, Restitution, Community Service, and House Arrest
• Public Comment on Preliminary Draft of the Sentencing Guidelines (Sept. 1986)
• Public Comment & Testimony for Sept. 23, 1986 Hearing on Plea Agreements
• Public Comment on Revised Draft Guidelines (Jan. 1987)
• Public Comment on Revised Draft Guidelines (Feb. 1987)
• Public Comment & Testimony on Revised Draft for March 1987 Hearing
• Public Comment on Emergency Amendments (July 1989)
• Public Comment in Response to Proposed Policy Concerning Public Access to Sentencing Materials (Aug. 1989-Jan. 1990)
• Public Comment on Proposed Guideline Amendments (1990)
• Public Comment & Written Testimony: Amendment Cycle 1990-1991
• Public Comment & Testimony 1992 Part 1
• Public Comment & Testimony 1992 Part 2
• Public Comment: 1993 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment Received on Proposed Guideline Amendments (Mar. 1994)
• Public Comment: 1995 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 1996 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 1997 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 1998 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 2000 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 2001 Amendment Cycle & Emergency Amendments
• Public Comment: 2001 Amendment Cycle (March)
• Public Comment and Summaries of Responses to Request for Public Comment Regarding the Establishment of Ad-Hoc Advisory Group on the Organizational Guidelines (Nov. 2001)
• Public Comment: 2003 Amendment Cycle (Feb. 18, 2003 Submissions)
• Public Comment: 2003 Amendment Cycle (Mar. 17, 2003 Submissions)
• Public Comment: 2004 Amendment Cycle (Aug. 1, 2003) — In Response to Notice of Proposed Priorities and Notice of Issues for Comment on the PROTECT Act
• Public Comment: 2004 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 2005 Amendment Cycle – Proposed Priority Policy Issues for the Amendment Cycle Ending May 1, 2006
• Public Comment: 2006 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: 2007 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment on the Retroactivity of Amendments 9 & 12 (Crack and “Related Cases”) (Nov. 2007)
• Public Comment: 2008 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment: Proposed Priorities for 2009 Amendment Cycle
• Public Comment Letters Received by the United States Sentencing Commission In Response to Request for Public Comment (March 2009)
• Public Comment Letters Received by the United States Sentencing Commission In Response to Request for Public Comment (March 2010)