← Legal Glossary
Sentencing Commission
Definition
An independent agency within the judicial branch that establishes sentencing guidelines and policies for federal courts. Under Section 994(t), Congress delegated to the Commission the authority to define what constitutes 'extraordinary and compelling reasons' for sentence reductions, and courts must ensure reductions are consistent with the Commission's policy statements.
Examples
- •Both sides debated the significance of the Sentencing Commission's silence on whether legal errors can qualify as extraordinary and compelling reasons for compassionate release.