Criminal Law—Federal Sentencing Guidelines Remain an Important Consideration in the Sentencing Process—United States v. Jimenez-Beltre, 440 F.3d 514 (1st Cir. 2006)

In 1984, Congress enacted the Sentencing Reform Act (SRA) with the purpose of restoring fairness, consistency, and proportionality to the practice of sentencing in the federal courts.  Pursuant to the SRA, Congress adopted the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (Guidelines)—an elaborate system of sentencing recommendations intended to assist federal judges in imposing criminal punishment.  The Guidelines were binding authority on federal courts until a 2005 Supreme Court decision relegated them to an advisory role. In United States v. Jimenez-Beltre, the First Circuit Court of Appeals considered the influence of the Guidelines on the practice of federal sentencing in their modified capacity.  The First Circuit held that the Guidelines are still an important factor that should be given adequate consideration in the sentencing process. . . .