Resolved by Guilty Plea
70%
of 328 FY2024 cases
6th Circuit · Tennessee · FY2015–FY2024
Middle Tennessee District
Federal criminal sentencing outcomes for the U.S. District Court, average sentence, guideline compliance, and disparity versus the national benchmark, from USSC case-level data.
- 137.0
- Avg months FY2024
- well above the national average
- 328
- Federal cases
- 37%
- Within guidelines
- typical guideline adherence
- +45.5%
- Disparity vs natl
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC), 328 federal defendants were sentenced in the Middle Tennessee District in FY2024, at an average of 137.0 months. Every figure on this page is computed from the USSC's case-level Individual Offender Datafiles; see our methodology for how each is derived.
The verdict
The Middle Tennessee District sentenced 328 federal defendants in FY2024 at an average of 137.0 months - longer than the national norm for its offense mix, ranking #1 of 85 districts (longer than 99% of them).
- 137 mo
- Average sentence, FY2024
- #1/85
- Avg-sentence rank (#1 = harshest)
- 37%
- Within guideline range
- +45.5%
- Disparity vs national
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–FY2024. · Methodology and data dictionary.
Sentencing Trends (FY2015–FY2024)
| Year | Cases | Avg (mo) | Within GL | Above GL | Below GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 328 | 137.0 | 37% | 5% | 58% |
| FY2023 | 440 | 121.9 | 34% | 4% | 62% |
| FY2022 | 454 | 118.3 | 35% | 6% | 59% |
| FY2021 | 495 | 109.4 | 33% | 4% | 63% |
| FY2020 | 421 | 91.1 | 35% | 3% | 62% |
| FY2019 | 493 | 102.8 | 37% | 2% | 60% |
| FY2018 | 477 | 87.8 | 41% | 2% | 58% |
| FY2017 | 404 | 79.9 | 43% | 3% | 55% |
| FY2016 | 353 | 83.8 | 27% | 1% | 72% |
| FY2015 | 309 | 82.8 | 32% | 2% | 67% |
Top Offenses (FY2024)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Drug Trafficking
157 cases · 152.7 mo avg
Firearms
74 cases · 79.1 mo avg
Sexual Abuse
27 cases · 309.7 mo avg
Child Pornography
23 cases · 179.0 mo avg
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
10 cases · 44.5 mo avg
Immigration
8 cases · 18.5 mo avg
Prison Offenses
7 cases · 14.4 mo avg
Tax
4 cases · 17.0 mo avg
Assault
4 cases · 143.3 mo avg
Administration of Justice Offenses
4 cases · 42.7 mo avg
Sentencing Disparity
+45.5%
vs. national average (FY2024)
Most Common Offenses - Middle Tennessee (FY2024)
Federal cases sentenced in this district by offense category
- Drug Trafficking
Drug Trafficking
157 cases
- Firearms
Firearms
74 cases
- Sexual Abuse 27
Sexual Abuse
27 cases
- Child Pornography 23
Child Pornography
23 cases
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 10
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
10 cases
- Immigration 8
Immigration
8 cases
- Prison Offenses 7
Prison Offenses
7 cases
- Tax 4
Tax
4 cases
- Assault 4
Assault
4 cases
- Administration of 4
Administration of Justice Offenses
4 cases
What this shows Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 157 of the cases sentenced in FY2024.
Middle Tennessee Sentencing Disparity, FY2015–FY2024
Sentencing Breakdown (FY2024)
Share of the 319 cases with a determinable guideline range.
Within Guidelines
37%
119 cases
Above Guidelines
5%
16 cases
Below Guidelines
58%
184 cases
Who is sentenced (FY2024)
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, of the 328 federal defendants sentenced in the Middle Tennessee District in FY2024, 13% were women and 9% were non-U.S. citizens. See our methodology for definitions.
Male
87%
286 of 328
Female
13%
42 of 328
Non-U.S. citizen
9%
31 of 328
Male and female shares are of all sentenced defendants; the non-citizen share is a separate cross-cut of the same total. Counts come directly from the USSC datafiles for FY2024.
Where the Middle Tennessee District ranks among all federal districts (FY2024)
Every rankable district by average sentence; the marker is this district's 137.0-month average.
137 99th percentile longer than 99% of 85 federal districts
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more federal districts. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles · FY2024
Sentenced to Prison
96%
rather than probation only
Avg-Sentence Rank
#1
of 85 districts (#1 = harshest)
What the Middle Tennessee District Data Reveals
In FY2024, the Middle Tennessee District (6th Circuit, Tennessee) sentenced 328 federal defendants, with an average imposed sentence of 137.0 months. Of those cases, 37% were sentenced within the U.S. Sentencing Commission guideline range, 5% received above-guideline sentences, and 58% received below-guideline sentences. Prison was imposed in 96% of cases, and 70% of defendants resolved their cases through a guilty plea rather than trial.
Relative to the national average for the same offense mix, the Middle Tennessee District ran a disparity of +45.5% in FY2024. Sentences here trended longer than the nationwide benchmark after controlling for offense composition. Below-guideline sentences, downward departures and variances under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including government-sponsored §5K1.1 motions, following United States v. Booker (2005) - accounted for 58% of the cases with a determinable range.
Context matters: these figures reflect the specific offense mix handled by the Middle Tennessee District, which drives much of the variation across federal courts. The top offense category was "Drug Trafficking" with 157 cases and an average sentence of 152.7 months. Figures are aggregate descriptive statistics from USSC Individual Offender Datafiles and do not account for criminal history, offense-level adjustments, or cooperation agreements at the individual case level. This data is presented for research and educational purposes only and is not legal advice.
About This Data
Source: United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2024. The Middle Tennessee District is part of the 6th Circuit.
"Within guidelines" means the imposed sentence fell within the calculated guideline range. "Above" and "below" are upward and downward departures or variances. Shares are computed over cases with a determinable guideline range; some cases (e.g. certain mandatory-minimum dispositions) have no calculable range and are excluded from those percentages.
Source: USSC Commission Datafiles · Methodology: see how we compute these metrics
Nearby Districts in the 6th Circuit
Other federal district courts in the same circuit. Compare sentencing patterns across neighboring jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average federal sentence in the Middle Tennessee District?
In FY2024, the Middle Tennessee District Court imposed an average federal sentence of 137.0 months across 328 cases. This includes all offense types handled by the district.
How often do judges in Middle Tennessee follow the sentencing guidelines?
In FY2024, 37% of sentences in the Middle Tennessee District fell within the federal sentencing guidelines range. 5% were above guidelines (upward departures) and 58% were below guidelines (downward departures).
What is a sentencing disparity score?
The disparity score measures how far a district's average sentences deviate from the national average for the same offense types. A positive score means the district sentences higher than average; a negative score means lower. The Middle Tennessee District had a disparity of +45.5% in FY2024.
What does "below guidelines" mean in federal sentencing?
A below-guideline sentence is one shorter than the bottom of the calculated guideline range, a downward departure or variance, often reflecting a government-sponsored motion (such as substantial assistance under §5K1.1) or a judicial variance under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) following United States v. Booker (2005). In the Middle Tennessee District, 58% of cases with a determinable guideline range fell below it in FY2024.
Where does the Middle Tennessee District sentencing data come from?
All data comes from the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) Individual Offender Datafiles, covering fiscal years 2015 through 2024. The USSC collects case-level data from federal courts nationwide.
Learn More About Federal Sentencing
Understanding Federal Sentencing
How federal sentencing guidelines work, from offense levels to criminal history categories.
Sentencing Disparity Explained
What drives differences in sentencing outcomes between federal districts.
Reading Sentencing Data
How to interpret the statistics and comparisons in PlainSentencing.
What the Middle Tennessee data shows
Middle Tennessee averaged 137.0 months in FY2024 - 45.5% above the national norm for its offense mix.
- Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in FY2024 (157 cases, avg 152.7 mo), 48% of the district's total caseload. A district's offense mix is the single largest driver of its average sentence, independent of judicial philosophy. Drug Trafficking data
- 70% of Middle Tennessee cases in FY2024 resolved by guilty plea. Cooperation agreements typically include government-sponsored downward departure motions -- the mechanism that pulls most district averages below the guideline midpoint. Plea bargaining in federal court
- Among 85 districts with sufficient caseloads, Middle Tennessee ranked #1 by average sentence in FY2024 -- longer than 99% of federal districts. Compare on the same offense types to control for the mix. Compare with another district
Descriptive USSC aggregates, not legal advice; a district average reflects its offense mix, not court severity.
Cite this page
Free to cite and reference with attribution. Figures update automatically as new data is published, compiled from the public-domain USSC datafiles.
PlainSentencing. (FY2024). Middle Tennessee District, Federal Sentencing Profile. PlainSentencing. Retrieved from https://plainsentencing.com/district/middle-tennessee/. Data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) Individual Offender Datafiles; public domain (CC0).
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.