The Localized Uses of Federal Sentencing Guidelines in Four U.S. District Courts: Evidence of Processual Order

Ulmer, Jeffery T.

doi:10.1525/si.2005.28.2.255

Cited by 91Criminal Justice and PenologyCriminal Justice and Corrections AnalysisLaw, Economics, and Judicial Systems

The Localized Uses of Federal Sentencing Guidelines in Four U.S. District Courts: Evidence of Processual Order

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Ulmer, Jeffery T.·2005·Symbolic Interaction

DOI 10.1525/si.2005.28.2.255

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Abstract

The federal criminal justice system applies a single set of federal statutes and identical rules of procedure in a variety of local district jurisdictions. It is an underexplored research setting rich with potential to advance our theoretical understanding of how important sociological and political processes work. In particular, the sentencing and case processing practices of federal district courts are governed by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which are in part supposed to impose uniformity and predictability in federal criminal sentencing. Guided by a processual order perspective that views courts as communities with their own distinct organizational culture, practices, and relationships, I explore the localized meaning and uses of key provisions of the sentencing guidelines, such as guideline departures for “substantial assistance” to law enforcement, sentence reductions for “acceptance of responsibility,” and the role of federal probation presentence reports. Data for this study come from field interviews with federal prosecutors, judges, public and private defense attorneys, and probation officers in four U.S. District Courts. I supplement these interview data with quantitative sentencing data that show substantial variation in criminal punishment between these four courts. I argue that federal criminal courts, like state courts, are best conceptualized as communities with distinctive processual orders.

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USAOs have several discretionary mechanisms by which to prosecute would-be state crimes federally in any jurisdiction, whether in Indian Country or not.
“USAOs have several discretionary mechanisms by which to prosecute would-be state crimes federally in any jurisdiction, whether in Indian Country or not”
From Criminal Justice in Indian Country: A Theoretical and Empirical Agenda (2019) · cites this paper as Ulmer 2005
These types of guideline departures are widely used and well known as prosecutorial tools to leverage informant cooperation with federal law enforcement.
“These types of guideline departures are widely used and well known as prosecutorial tools to leverage informant cooperation with federal law enforcement”
From Criminal Justice in Indian Country: A Theoretical and Empirical Agenda (2019) · cites this paper as Ulmer 2005

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Authors: Ulmer, J. T.
Affiliations: Pennsylvania State University (US)
Corresponding author: Ulmer, Jeffery T.
ORCID: Ulmer, Jeffery T.
Venue: Symbolic Interaction
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2005-05
Volume: 28
Issue: 2
Pages: 255-279
ISSN: 0195-6086 (ISSN-L)
1533-8665
DOI: 10.1525/si.2005.28.2.255
OpenAlex: W2073558214
Cited by: 91
References: 49
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 4
FWCI: 42.10
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
papers.ssrn.com
Licence: doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 3775 d)
Locations: Symbolic Interaction (publishedVersion)
SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Justice and Penology
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Law, Economics, and Judicial Systems
Keywords: federal sentencing guidelines, federal district courts, sentencing discretion, acceptance of responsibility, sentence reduction, federal criminal justice

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The Localized Uses of Federal Sentencing Guidelines in Four U.S. District Courts: Evidence of Processual Order

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