An independent guide to federal sentencing law and procedure in Boston, Suffolk County — the local federal courthouse, the sentencing process, and how guideline ranges are calculated.
U.S. District Court — District of Massachusetts
1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
The John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse on Boston's waterfront houses the District of Massachusetts. Boston has the highest concentration of academic medical centers per capita of any U.S. city — including Mass General, Brigham and Women's, and Beth Israel.
Federal sentencing in every district follows the same structure: a base offense level, specific offense characteristics, a criminal history category, and the statutory factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Local practice — from PSR procedures to courtroom norms — varies by courthouse.
Base offense levels, specific offense characteristics, cross-references, and relevant conduct.
Substantial assistance (5K1.1), aberrant behavior, diminished capacity, coercion, and other grounds for below-range sentences.
Post-Booker variance arguments based on the statutory sentencing factors.
Challenging the Presentence Investigation Report — factual inaccuracies and guideline application errors.
No. Since United States v. Booker (2005), the guidelines are advisory, not mandatory. Judges must calculate the guideline range but may impose a sentence outside it.
A downward departure is a sentence below the guideline range based on circumstances recognized by the guidelines, such as substantial assistance or aberrant behavior.
Relevant conduct under USSG 1B1.3 can include uncharged and even acquitted conduct. This can dramatically increase the guideline range.
Sentencingguidelinesguide is maintained as an editorial research archive for this topic. It summarizes public materials, case law, and statute-level references without offering intake or representation.
Every page is written in a neutral research voice. We do not publish attorney persona copy, client-matching language, fake reviews, or consultation CTAs.
Case references, statute numbers, and procedural rules are cited where relevant. Readers should verify authorities before relying on any summary.
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