What is the federal sentencing reform act?

The Federal Sentencing Reform Act is a federal law that was passed in 1984 to reduce the disparity in punishments for similar crimes. This law established guidelines for judges to follow when determining sentences for those convicted of federal crimes. The law includes different sentencing ranges for each type of offense, depending on the level of culpability of the perpetrator and the seriousness of the crime. It also set forth guidelines for mitigating circumstances that might reduce the severity of the sentence. The Federal Sentencing Reform Act sought to reduce the amount of time offenders spent in prison and provide more consistency in sentencing among offenders. The Act also created separate sentencing guidelines for certain offenses such as drug trafficking and white-collar crimes. Additionally, the Act established the Sentencing Commission to review criminal sentencing guidelines and provide recommendations to the U.S. Supreme Court for changes or modifications. The federal sentencing reform act has become an important part of criminal law in Washington state as well as the rest of the United States. It has provided more consistency in sentencing and has reduced the amount of time offenders spend in prison. Additionally, guidelines created by the Act have helped to prevent excessive sentences that are the result of one judge’s subjective interpretation of the law. The sentencing reform act has been a successful step towards creating fairer and more just criminal justice systems in the United States.

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What is the federal sentencing reform act?

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