What is the federal sentencing guidelines system?

The federal sentencing guidelines system is a system created by the United States Congress to standardize the punishment of those convicted of federal crimes in the United States. The system sets out the sentencing range for each crime and takes into account the severity of the crime, any prior criminal records, and other relevant factors. The judge uses the sentencing guidelines to determine the appropriate sentence for a defendant. In South Dakota, the federal sentencing guidelines system is divided into two parts: the advisory guidelines and the binding guidelines. The advisory guidelines provide a range of sentences for each federal crime. The judge considers the advisory guidelines when handing out a sentence, but does not have to follow them. The binding guidelines, however, set out mandatory sentences for certain types of crimes and must be adhered to by the judge. The federal sentencing guidelines system is designed to standardize criminal punishments throughout the United States and ensure justice is done in each and every case.

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