What does the Montana district docket plate read for FY2025?

Montana stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-MID · DISP-LONG · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-MID · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-9TH at 57.9 mo (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)) across 403 USSC cases, ranking #71/88 by average sentence.

How does Montana compare on mix-adjusted disparity?

Mix-adjusted disparity was +24.9% in FY2025 (DISP-LONG) - 36% within guidelines, 62% below (mid below-guideline share (≤ 64%)).

Where does Montana sit among USSC districts?

#44 of 93 by FY2025 caseload (middle-third caseload (≤ 506 cases)); #71 of 88 by average sentence (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)).

Where does Montana sentencing data come from?

USSC Individual Offender Datafiles FY2015–FY2025. The docket plate uses the same FY2025 corpus ranks as /rankings/; see /methodology/#corpus-placement.

9th Circuit · Montana · FY2015–FY2025

Montana District

Name: Federal Sentencing Data - Montana District
Creator: PlainSentencing
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Average imposed sentence 57.9 mo in FY2025 - shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo) among 88 districts (≥100 cases).

Compiled by PlainSentencing, Federal Sentencing Data Publishing · August 30, 2026

57.9
Avg months FY2025: above the national average; 403
Federal cases: 36%
Within guidelines: low guideline adherence; +24.9%
Disparity vs natl

RSS updates

The verdict

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Montana District ranks #44 of 93 by caseload (403 cases) and #70 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by average sentence (57.9 months).

#44
Caseload of 93: #70
Avg sentence of 88: 57.9 months
This district avg FY2025: 403
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.

Montana USSC docket plate

BOOK-LIGHT Light book SENT-MID 58 mo avg DISP-LONG +24.9% long WITHIN-LOOSE 36% within RANK-MID #71/88 PHOTO-NEAR Near Eastern CIR-9TH 9th

FY2025: 403 cases at 57.9 mo average · #71/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted +24.9% (DISP-LONG). Nearest ABS peer: Eastern (0.0 mo).

Arizona

17.4
Southern · near

56.8
Montana

57.9
Eastern · near

57.9
Northern · near

58.5
Southern

129.3

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.

Montana FY2024→FY2025: +1.4 mo avg

Montana: FY2025 average 57.9 mo (+1.4 vs FY2024); caseload +36. Chart = avg vs guideline midpoint.

Year	Cases	Avg (mo)	Within GL	Above GL	Below GL
FY2025	403	57.9	36%	2%	62%
FY2024	367	56.5	35%	3%	62%
FY2023	369	58.6	30%	5%	65%
FY2022	348	51.5	27%	3%	70%
FY2021	333	55.2	29%	2%	69%
FY2020	324	59.5	36%	1%	63%
FY2019	385	59.8	36%	1%	63%
FY2018	356	62.1	37%	2%	60%
FY2017	318	65.1	30%	3%	67%
FY2016	321	53.4	31%	3%	66%
FY2015	363	71.2	41%	2%	58%

Top Offenses (FY2025)

1

Drug Trafficking

160 cases · 81.6 mo avg

2

Firearms

96 cases · 34.2 mo avg

3

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

44 cases · 25.2 mo avg

4

Assault

25 cases · 29.5 mo avg

5

Immigration

23 cases · 4.6 mo avg

6

Sexual Abuse

14 cases · 129.2 mo avg

7

Obscenity/Other Sex Offenses

8 cases · 13.4 mo avg

8

Manslaughter

5 cases · 22.8 mo avg

9

Environmental

5 cases · 46.0 mo avg

10

Child Pornography

5 cases · 153.6 mo avg

Sentencing Disparity

+24.9%

vs. national average (FY2025)

Drug Trafficking

160
Firearms

96
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

44
Assault

25
Immigration

23
Sexual Abuse

14
Obscenity/Other Sex

8
Manslaughter

5
Environmental

5
Child Pornography

5

What this shows Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 160 of the cases sentenced in FY2025.

Nationwide districts with similar caseload or average sentence

Two peer sets for Montana: FY2025 federal caseload volume and average imposed sentence, distinct from same-circuit neighbors.

Similar FY caseload

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(403 cases here).

Western New York · 403 cases · 2nd Circuit
Middle Georgia · 405 cases · 11th Circuit
Middle Pennsylvania · 408 cases · 3rd Circuit
Kansas · 410 cases · 10th Circuit

Similar average sentence

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(57.9 mo here; ≥100-case books).

Eastern Wisconsin · 57.9 mo avg · 302 cases
Northern Georgia · 58.5 mo avg · 502 cases
Southern Florida · 56.8 mo avg · 1,457 cases
Western New York · 59.3 mo avg · 403 cases

Read with Montana

ABS(avg_sentence) peers first, then a stamp-branched guide - not a fixed three-guide strip. This sheet stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-MID · DISP-LONG · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-MID · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-9TH.

Eastern · 58 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 57.9 mo (Δ 0.0 mo harsher vs Montana); 302 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Northern · 59 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 58.5 mo (Δ 0.6 mo harsher vs Montana); 502 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Southern · 57 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 56.8 mo (Δ 1.1 mo lenient vs Montana); 1,457 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Western · 59 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 59.3 mo (Δ 1.4 mo harsher vs Montana); 403 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Disparity drill · DISP-LONG

Montana stamps DISP-LONG on mix-adjusted disparity - the disparity guide explains offense-mix vs judicial variation.

Drug · lead offense

Drug Trafficking led Montana at 160 cases (40% of the FY2025 book) - offense-specific averages differ from the district headline.

All Districts District Rankings

Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2025.

Source: USSC public-use extracts rendered by PlainSentencing; methodology at /methodology/.