What does the Northern district docket plate read for FY2025?

Northern California stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-MID · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-9TH at 38.7 mo (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)) across 364 USSC cases, ranking #82/88 by average sentence.

How does Northern compare on mix-adjusted disparity?

Mix-adjusted disparity was -33.5% in FY2025 (DISP-SHORT) - 11% within guidelines, 87% below (common below-guideline share (> 64%)).

Where does Northern sit among USSC districts?

#52 of 93 by FY2025 caseload (middle-third caseload (≤ 506 cases)); #82 of 88 by average sentence (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)).

Where does Northern 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 · California · FY2015–FY2025

Northern California District

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

Average imposed sentence 38.7 mo in FY2025 - shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo) among 88 districts (≥100 cases).

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

38.7
Avg months FY2025: below the national average; 364
Federal cases: 11%
Within guidelines: low guideline adherence; -33.5%
Disparity vs natl

RSS updates

The verdict

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Northern California District ranks #52 of 93 by caseload (364 cases) and #82 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by average sentence (38.7 months).

#52
Caseload of 93: #82
Avg sentence of 88: 38.7 months
This district avg FY2025: 364
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.

Northern USSC docket plate

BOOK-LIGHT Light book SENT-MID 39 mo avg DISP-SHORT -33.5% short WITHIN-LOOSE 11% within RANK-LENIENT #82/88 lenient PHOTO-NEAR Near Utah CIR-9TH 9th

FY2025: 364 cases at 38.7 mo average · #82/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted -33.5% (DISP-SHORT). Nearest ABS peer: Utah (+5.1 mo).

Arizona

17.4
Vermont · near

32.6
Northern

38.7
Utah · near

43.8
Delaware · near

44.7
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.

Northern FY2024→FY2025: -2.1 mo avg

Northern California: FY2025 average 38.7 mo (-2.1 vs FY2024); caseload -113. Chart = avg vs guideline midpoint.

Year	Cases	Avg (mo)	Within GL	Above GL	Below GL
FY2025	364	38.7	11%	2%	87%
FY2024	477	40.8	12%	2%	86%
FY2023	386	49.7	11%	2%	87%
FY2022	377	48.3	14%	1%	85%
FY2021	369	46.0	16%	1%	83%
FY2020	557	38.5	23%	1%	76%
FY2019	485	54.3	28%	1%	70%
FY2018	535	55.4	34%	2%	64%
FY2017	517	60.6	38%	2%	60%
FY2016	464	59.0	36%	3%	61%
FY2015	568	56.2	34%	2%	64%

Top Offenses (FY2025)

1

Drug Trafficking

162 cases · 28.9 mo avg

2

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

51 cases · 15.5 mo avg

3

Firearms

49 cases · 38.1 mo avg

4

Robbery

17 cases · 46.5 mo avg

5

Immigration

15 cases · 15.8 mo avg

6

Money Laundering

14 cases · 27.6 mo avg

7

Assault

11 cases · 94.0 mo avg

8

Murder

10 cases · 231.0 mo avg

9

Child Pornography

9 cases · 106.1 mo avg

10

Tax

7 cases · 7.6 mo avg

Sentencing Disparity

-33.5%

vs. national average (FY2025)

Drug Trafficking

162
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

51
Firearms

49
Robbery

17
Immigration

15
Money Laundering

14
Assault

11
Murder

10
Child Pornography

9
Tax

7

What this shows Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 162 of the cases sentenced in FY2025.

Nationwide districts with similar caseload or average sentence

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

Similar FY caseload

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(364 cases here).

Southern Indiana · 356 cases · 7th Circuit
Western North Carolina · 352 cases · 4th Circuit
Colorado · 377 cases · 10th Circuit
Southern Mississippi · 378 cases · 5th Circuit

Similar average sentence

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(38.7 mo here; ≥100-case books).

Utah · 43.8 mo avg · 779 cases
Delaware · 44.7 mo avg · 149 cases
Vermont · 32.6 mo avg · 210 cases
New Hampshire · 47.0 mo avg · 130 cases

Read with Northern

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-9TH.

Utah · 44 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 43.8 mo (Δ 5.1 mo harsher vs Northern); 779 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Delaware · 45 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 44.7 mo (Δ 6.0 mo harsher vs Northern); 149 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Vermont · 33 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 32.6 mo (Δ 6.1 mo lenient vs Northern); 210 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

New · 47 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 47.0 mo (Δ 8.3 mo harsher vs Northern); 130 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Plea motion · 87% below GL

Northern stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-MID · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-9TH - the reading guide shows how to interpret USSC averages without conflating mix and severity.

Drug · lead offense

Drug Trafficking led Northern at 162 cases (45% 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/.