Appendix B - Selected Sentencing Statutes

"(D) impose an additional appropriate sentencing enhancement upon an offender with 2 or more prior felony convictions arising out of separate and prior prosecutions for offenses that involved the same or similar underlying conduct as the current offense, to be applied in addition to any sentencing enhancement that would otherwise apply pursuant to the calculation of the defendant’s criminal history category; and

"(E) consider whether any other aggravating or mitigating circumstances warrant upward or downward sentencing adjustments.

"(3) Emergency authority to Sentencing Commission.—The Commission shall promulgate the guidelines or amendments provided for under this subsection as soon as practicable in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987, as though the authority under that Act had not expired."

Criminal Penalties for Involuntary Servitude. Pub.L. 104-208, Title II, § 218(b), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-573, provided that:

"(b) Review of Sentencing Guidelines.—The United States Sentencing Commission shall ascertain whether there exists an unwarranted disparity—

"(1) between the sentences for peonage, involuntary servitude, and slave trade offenses, and the sentences for kidnapping offenses in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and

"(2) between the sentences for peonage, involuntary servitude, and slave trade offenses, and the sentences for alien smuggling offenses in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and after the amendment made by subsection (a).

"(c) Amendment of Sentencing Guidelines.—

"(1) In general.—Pursuant to its authority under section 994(p) of title 28, United States Code, the United States Sentencing Commission shall review its guidelines on sentencing for peonage, involuntary servitude, and slave trade offenses under sections 1581 through 1588 of title 18, United States Code, and shall amend such guidelines as necessary to)

"(A) reduce or eliminate any unwarranted disparity found under subsection (b) that exists between the sentences for peonage, involuntary servitude, and slave trade offenses, and the sentences for kidnapping offenses and alien smuggling offenses;

"(B) ensure that the applicable guidelines for defendants convicted of peonage, involuntary servitude, and slave trade offenses are sufficiently stringent to deter such offenses and adequately reflect the heinous nature of such offenses; and

"(C) ensure that the guidelines reflect the general appropriateness of enhanced sentences for defendants whose peonage, involuntary servitude, or slave trade offenses involve—

"(i) a large number of victims;

"(ii) the use or threatened use of a dangerous weapon; or "(iii) a prolonged period of peonage or involuntary servitude.

"(2) Emergency authority to Sentencing Commission.—The Commission shall promulgate the guidelines or amendments provided for under this subsection as soon as practicable in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of 1987, as though the authority under that Act had not expired."

Penalties for Conspiring With or Assisting an Alien to Commit an Offense Under the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act. Pub.L. 104-208, Title III, § 333, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-634, provided that:

"(a) Review of Guidelines.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the United States Sentencing Commission shall conduct a review of the guidelines applicable to an offender who conspires with, or aids or abets, a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States in committing any offense under section 1010 of the Controlled Substance Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 960).

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Last reviewed October 2024