18 U.S.C. § 3551 - Authorized sentences

• Cite as: 18 U.S.C. § 3551

(a) IN GENERAL.-Except as otherwise specifically provided, a defendant who has been found guilty of an offense described in any Federal statute, including sections 13 and 1153 of this title, other than an Act of Congress applicable exclusively in the District of Columbia or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of this chapter so as to achieve the purposes set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section 3553(a)(2) to the extent that they are applicable in light of all the circumstances of the case.

(b) INDIVIDUALS.-An individual found guilty of an offense shall be sentenced, in accordance with the provisions of section 3553, to-

(1) a term of probation as authorized by subchapter B;

(2) a fine as authorized by subchapter C; or

(3) a term of imprisonment as authorized by subchapter D.

A sentence to pay a fine may be imposed in addition to any other sentence. A sanction authorized by section 3554, 3555, or 3556 may be imposed in addition to the sentence required by this subsection.

(c) ORGANIZATIONS.-An organization found guilty of an offense shall be sentenced, in accordance with the provisions of section 3553, to-

(1) a term of probation as authorized by subchapter B; or

(2) a fine as authorized by subchapter C.

A sentence to pay a fine may be imposed in addition to a sentence to probation. A sanction authorized by section 3554, 3555, or 3556 may be imposed in addition to the sentence required by this subsection.

Cite as 18 U.S.C. § 3551

Source: Added Pub. L. 98-473, title II, §212(a)(2), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1988; amended Pub. L. 101-647, title XVI, §16021602,, 104 Stat. 4843.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 5/22/2023

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXT

Acts of Congress applicable exclusively in the District of Columbia, referred to in subsec. (a), are classified generally to the District of Columbia Code.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in subsec. (a), is classified generally to chapter 47 (§801 et seq.) of Title 10, Armed Forces.

AMENDMENTS

1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-647 inserted "including sections 13 and 1153 of this title," after "any Federal statute,".

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE; SAVINGS PROVISION

Pub. L. 98-473, title II, §235, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2031, as amended by Pub. L. 99-217, §§2, 4, Dec. 26, 1985, 99 Stat. 1728; Pub. L. 99-646, §35, Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3599; Pub. L. 100-182, §2, Dec. 7, 1987, 101 Stat. 1266; Pub. L. 104-232, §4, Oct. 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 3056, provided that:

"(a)(1) This chapter [chapter II (§§211-239) of title II of Pub. L. 98-473 see Tables for classification] shall take effect on the first day of the first calendar month beginning 36 months after the date of enactment [Oct. 12, 1984] and shall apply only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this chapter, except that-

"(A) the repeal of chapter 402 of title 18, United States Code, shall take effect on the date of enactment [Oct. 12, 1984];

"(B)(i) chapter 58 of title 28, United States Code, shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 12, 1984] or October 1, 1983, whichever occurs later, and the United States Sentencing Commission shall submit the initial sentencing guidelines promulgated under section 994(a)(1) of title 28 to the Congress within 30 months of the effective date of such chapter 58; and

"(ii) the sentencing guidelines promulgated pursuant to section 994(a)(1) shall not go into effect until-

"(I) the United States Sentencing Commission has submitted the initial set of sentencing guidelines to the Congress pursuant to subparagraph (B)(i), along with a report stating the reasons for the Commission's recommendations;

"(II) the General Accounting Office [now Government Accountability Office] has undertaken a study of the guidelines, and their potential impact in comparison with the operation of the existing sentencing and parole release system, and has, within one hundred and fifty days of submission of the guidelines, reported to the Congress the results of its study; and