§334 Institutes and joint councils on sentencing

Summary

Allows the Judicial Conference to set up institutes and joint councils so federal courts can work toward more consistent sentencing. The Attorney General or a circuit’s chief judge can ask the Judicial Conference, through the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, to hold these meetings to study and make goals, rules, and standards for sentencing. Topics can include rules for presentence reports, how to pick cases for study, how mental, emotional, social, or physical factors affect sentences, special problems in unusual crimes (for example treason, public-trust violations, sexual offenses, addiction, or disabilities), and general fair-sentencing principles. Once the Judicial Conference approves the meeting details, each circuit’s chief judge can invite district judges without delaying court work. The Attorney General can send U.S. attorneys and Justice Department officials and invite other federal officers and outside experts like criminologists and psychiatrists. Judges’ attendance costs come from the judiciary’s appropriations, and planning and travel costs for Justice Department invitees come from the Department of Justice’s appropriations.