1st Circuit · Massachusetts · FY2015–FY2025
Massachusetts District
Average imposed sentence 51.8 mo in FY2025 - shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo) among 88 districts (≥100 cases).
- 51.8
- Avg months FY2025
- near the national average
- 558
- Federal cases
- 26%
- Within guidelines
- low guideline adherence
- -25.9%
- Disparity vs natl
The verdict
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Massachusetts District ranks #27 of 93 by caseload (558 cases) and #78 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by average sentence (51.8 months).
- #27
- Caseload of 93
- #78
- Avg sentence of 88
- 51.8 months
- This district avg FY2025
- 558
- This district cases FY2025
Caseload rank covers every district with at least one FY case. Average-sentence rank covers districts with at least 100 cases so a thin docket cannot top the list. Offense ranks cover the 30 published guideline types. Averages follow offense mix, not court character.
Massachusetts USSC docket plate
FY2025: 558 cases at 51.8 mo average · #78/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted -25.9% (DISP-SHORT). Nearest ABS peer: Northern (+0.1 mo).
Avg-sentence neighbourhood · Massachusetts
Harsh/lenient poles plus ABS(avg_sentence) peers (≥100 FY2025 cases) - not a full 93-district reprint.
- Arizona 17.4
Arizona · lenient pole
17.4 mo avg
- Massachusetts
Massachusetts · this district
51.8 mo avg
- Northern · near
Northern · near
51.9 mo avg
- Eastern · near
Eastern · near
53.1 mo avg
- Nevada · near
Nevada · near
54.1 mo avg
- Southern
Southern · harsh pole
129.3 mo avg
For educational and research purposes only. This page summarizes historical USSC sentencing statistics, not a prediction for any individual case, sentencing depends on many case-specific factors. Consult a licensed criminal defense attorney for guidance on a specific matter.
Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2025. · Methodology and data dictionary.
Massachusetts FY2024→FY2025: -1.5 mo avg
| Year | Cases | Avg (mo) | Within GL | Above GL | Below GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | 558 | 51.8 | 26% | 4% | 70% |
| FY2024 | 531 | 53.3 | 22% | 2% | 75% |
| FY2023 | 477 | 55.4 | 18% | 2% | 80% |
| FY2022 | 466 | 53.8 | 25% | 4% | 71% |
| FY2021 | 422 | 46.9 | 24% | 3% | 73% |
| FY2020 | 387 | 37.8 | 35% | 5% | 61% |
| FY2019 | 476 | 44.1 | 35% | 4% | 61% |
| FY2018 | 529 | 56.3 | 31% | 3% | 67% |
| FY2017 | 505 | 48.1 | 28% | 4% | 68% |
| FY2016 | 496 | 46.5 | 24% | 2% | 74% |
| FY2015 | 524 | 54.4 | 23% | 4% | 73% |
Top Offenses (FY2025)
Sentencing Disparity
Most Common Offenses - Massachusetts (FY2025)
Federal cases sentenced in this district by offense category
- Drug Trafficking
Drug Trafficking
209 cases
- Immigration
Immigration
91 cases
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 83
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
83 cases
- Firearms 44
Firearms
44 cases
- Money Laundering 41
Money Laundering
41 cases
- Child Pornography 14
Child Pornography
14 cases
- Tax 13
Tax
13 cases
- Sexual Abuse 12
Sexual Abuse
12 cases
- Robbery 11
Robbery
11 cases
- Assault 7
Assault
7 cases
What this shows Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 209 of the cases sentenced in FY2025.
Nationwide districts with similar caseload or average sentence
High-volume Massachusetts peer sets: FY2025 caseload nearest-neighbors and ABS(average sentence) peers among ≥100-case books - distinct from circuit geography.
Similar FY caseload
Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(558 cases here).
- Southern Ohio · 560 cases · 6th Circuit
- Northern Oklahoma · 564 cases · 10th Circuit
- Eastern Tennessee · 532 cases · 6th Circuit
- Western Oklahoma · 584 cases · 10th Circuit
Similar average sentence
Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(51.8 mo here; ≥100-case books).
- Northern New York · 51.9 mo avg · 419 cases
- Eastern Michigan · 53.1 mo avg · 851 cases
- Nevada · 54.1 mo avg · 202 cases
- New Jersey · 55.0 mo avg · 673 cases
Read with Massachusetts
ABS(avg_sentence) peers first, then a stamp-branched guide - not a fixed three-guide strip. This sheet stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-MID · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-1ST.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 51.9 mo (Δ 0.1 mo harsher vs Massachusetts); 419 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 53.1 mo (Δ 1.3 mo harsher vs Massachusetts); 851 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 54.1 mo (Δ 2.3 mo harsher vs Massachusetts); 202 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 55.0 mo (Δ 3.2 mo harsher vs Massachusetts); 673 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
Massachusetts stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-MID · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-1ST - the reading guide shows how to interpret USSC averages without conflating mix and severity.
Drug Trafficking led Massachusetts at 209 cases (37% of the FY2025 book) - offense-specific averages differ from the district headline.
Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2025.
Source: USSC public-use extracts rendered by PlainSentencing; methodology at /methodology/.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified. One-line guide: reading sentencing data. Report a data issue on this page.