New Federal Rules Modernize Juvenile Sentencing, Correct Misuse of Acquitted Conduct

The U.S. Sentencing Commission move to finalize proposed rules “align with brain science and correct fundamental injustice”: Justice Action Network 

Washington DC --  The U.S. Sentencing Commission finalized rules that drew broad bipartisan support from criminal justice advocates Wednesday. 

Among the 2024 changes to federal sentencing guidelines are rules that alter how sentences for offenses committed prior to the age of eighteen are considered in the calculation of a defendant’s criminal history score, and eliminate the consideration of offenses for which a person of any age has been acquitted during subsequent interactions with the justice system.

“Juvenile brains both take on and respond to risk differently than adults. It’s encouraging to see the justice system taking development seriously in the way it addresses criminal offenses, particularly because we also know that cycles of incarceration started early in a person’s life often lead to more crime, not less,” said JC Hendrickson, Federal Affairs Director for Justice Action Network, “Likewise, the commission’s decision to discontinue the use of acquitted conduct in sentencing decisions corrects a practice which has long raised major constitutional issues, depriving citizens of due process to which they are entitled under both the fifth and sixth amendments. We are pleased to see the commission promulgating rules that align with brain science and correct fundamental injustice in our criminal legal system.”