§334 Institutes and Joint Councils on Sentencing

Summary

Creates institutes and joint councils under the Judicial Conference to study and set goals, policies, and standards for sentencing people convicted of federal crimes. The Attorney General or the chief judge of any circuit can ask the Judicial Conference, through the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, to hold these meetings. The groups may work on matters like how to prepare and use presentence reports, how to pick cases for study, how medical, mental, and social factors should affect sentences, how to handle unusual cases (for example treason, public trust violations, subversion, sexual or drug-addiction issues, or disabilities), and how to make sentencing fair. Once the Judicial Conference approves plans, each circuit’s chief judge may invite district judges in a way that won’t delay court work. The Attorney General may send U.S. attorneys and Justice Department officials and invite other federal officers and outside experts (such as criminologists and psychiatrists). Judges’ travel and attendance costs come from judicial funds; planning and other invited participants’ costs come from Justice Department funds.