What does the Southern district docket plate read for FY2025?

Southern California stamps BOOK-HEAVY · SENT-SHORT · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-9TH at 19.0 mo (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)) across 2,661 USSC cases, ranking #87/88 by average sentence.

How does Southern compare on mix-adjusted disparity?

Mix-adjusted disparity was -40.9% in FY2025 (DISP-SHORT) - 26% within guidelines, 73% below (common below-guideline share (> 64%)).

Where does Southern sit among USSC districts?

#5 of 93 by FY2025 caseload (upper-third caseload (> 506 cases)); #87 of 88 by average sentence (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)).

Where does Southern 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

Southern California District

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

Average imposed sentence 19.0 mo in FY2025 - shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo) among 88 districts (≥100 cases).

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

19.0
Avg months FY2025: well below the national average; 2,661
Federal cases: 26%
Within guidelines: low guideline adherence; -40.9%
Disparity vs natl

RSS updates

The verdict

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Southern California District ranks #5 of 93 by caseload (2,661 cases) and #87 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by average sentence (19.0 months).

#5
Caseload of 93: #87
Avg sentence of 88: 19.0 months
This district avg FY2025: 2,661
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.

Southern USSC docket plate

BOOK-HEAVY Heavy book SENT-SHORT 19 mo avg DISP-SHORT -40.9% short WITHIN-LOOSE 26% within RANK-LENIENT #87/88 lenient PHOTO-NEAR Near New CIR-9TH 9th

FY2025: 2,661 cases at 19.0 mo average · #87/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted -40.9% (DISP-SHORT). Nearest ABS peer: New (+0.7 mo).

Arizona

17.4
Southern

19
New · near

19.7
Western · near

21.2
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.

Southern FY2024→FY2025: -3.6 mo avg

Southern California: FY2025 average 19.0 mo (-3.6 vs FY2024); caseload +27. Chart = avg vs guideline midpoint.

Year	Cases	Avg (mo)	Within GL	Above GL	Below GL
FY2025	2,661	19.0	26%	1%	73%
FY2024	2,634	22.6	14%	2%	85%
FY2023	3,189	24.2	9%	1%	90%
FY2022	3,474	27.5	10%	3%	87%
FY2021	2,927	25.7	7%	3%	90%
FY2020	3,499	22.1	11%	1%	88%
FY2019	4,089	21.1	16%	1%	82%
FY2018	3,889	25.4	15%	1%	84%
FY2017	2,888	28.2	13%	1%	86%
FY2016	2,849	32.0	13%	1%	86%
FY2015	3,391	29.8	12%	1%	87%

Top Offenses (FY2025)

1

Immigration

1388 cases · 6.6 mo avg

2

Drug Trafficking

881 cases · 34.0 mo avg

3

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

113 cases · 11.6 mo avg

4

Money Laundering

99 cases · 33.3 mo avg

5

Firearms

50 cases · 27.5 mo avg

6

Prison Offenses

22 cases · 7.3 mo avg

7

Child Pornography

22 cases · 67.2 mo avg

8

Administration of Justice Offenses

14 cases · 7.8 mo avg

9

Other Offenses

12 cases · 5.7 mo avg

10

Environmental

10 cases · 0.9 mo avg

Sentencing Disparity

-40.9%

vs. national average (FY2025)

Immigration

1,388
Drug Trafficking

881
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

113
Money Laundering

99
Firearms

50
Prison Offenses

22
Child Pornography

22
Administration of

14
Other Offenses

12
Environmental

10

What this shows Immigration was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 1,388 of the cases sentenced in FY2025.

Nationwide districts with similar caseload or average sentence

High-volume Southern 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(2,661 cases here).

New Mexico · 2,699 cases · 10th Circuit
Middle Florida · 1,528 cases · 11th Circuit
Southern Florida · 1,457 cases · 11th Circuit
Northern Texas · 1,386 cases · 5th Circuit

Similar average sentence

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(19.0 mo here; ≥100-case books).

New Mexico · 19.7 mo avg · 2,699 cases
Arizona · 17.4 mo avg · 4,134 cases
Western Texas · 21.2 mo avg · 10,416 cases
Southern Texas · 21.4 mo avg · 7,545 cases

Read with Southern

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

New · 20 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 19.7 mo (Δ 0.7 mo harsher vs Southern); 2,699 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Arizona · 17 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 17.4 mo (Δ 1.6 mo lenient vs Southern); 4,134 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Western · 21 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 21.2 mo (Δ 2.2 mo harsher vs Southern); 10,416 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Southern · 21 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 21.4 mo (Δ 2.4 mo harsher vs Southern); 7,545 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Caseload board · BOOK-HEAVY

Southern stamps BOOK-HEAVY on FY2025 volume - see where heavy USSC books sit on the most-cases ladder.

Immigration · lead offense

Immigration led Southern at 1,388 cases (52% 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/.