8th Circuit · Iowa · FY2015–FY2025
Southern Iowa District
Average imposed sentence 129.3 mo in FY2025 - longer-third average (> 82 mo) among 88 districts (≥100 cases).
- 129.3
- Avg months FY2025
- well above the national average
- 343
- Federal cases
- 37%
- Within guidelines
- low guideline adherence
- +44.4%
- Disparity vs natl
The verdict
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Southern Iowa District is #1 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by longest average sentence (129.3 months) at caseload #57 of 93 ≠ Western Texas District #1 caseload at 10,416 cases (average-sentence rank 85).
- #57
- Caseload of 93
- #1
- Avg sentence of 88
- 129.3 months
- This district avg FY2025
- 343
- 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
FY2025: 343 cases at 129.3 mo average · #1/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted +44.4% (DISP-LONG). Nearest ABS peer: Southern (-16.9 mo).
Avg-sentence neighbourhood · Southern
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
- Western · near
Western · near
106.3 mo avg
- Eastern · near
Eastern · near
108.3 mo avg
- Southern · near
Southern · near
112.4 mo avg
- Southern
Southern · this district · harshest
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.
Southern FY2024→FY2025: -7.7 mo avg
| Year | Cases | Avg (mo) | Within GL | Above GL | Below GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | 343 | 129.3 | 37% | 4% | 58% |
| 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 (FY2025)
Sentencing Disparity
Most Common Offenses - Southern Iowa (FY2025)
Federal cases sentenced in this district by offense category
- Drug Trafficking
Drug Trafficking
131 cases
- Firearms
Firearms
77 cases
- Child Pornography 28
Child Pornography
28 cases
- Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement 24
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement
24 cases
- Assault 23
Assault
23 cases
- Immigration 16
Immigration
16 cases
- Sexual Abuse 15
Sexual Abuse
15 cases
- Robbery 5
Robbery
5 cases
- Money Laundering 5
Money Laundering
5 cases
- Other Offenses 4
Other Offenses
4 cases
What this shows Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 131 of the cases sentenced in FY2025.
Nationwide districts with similar caseload or average sentence
Two peer sets for Southern Iowa: FY2025 federal caseload volume and average imposed sentence, distinct from same-circuit neighbors.
Similar FY caseload
Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(343 cases here).
- Middle Tennessee · 346 cases · 6th Circuit
- Western Washington · 346 cases · 9th Circuit
- Western Tennessee · 339 cases · 6th Circuit
- Eastern Washington · 335 cases · 9th Circuit
Similar average sentence
Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(129.3 mo here; ≥100-case books).
- Southern Indiana · 112.4 mo avg · 356 cases
- Eastern Oklahoma · 108.3 mo avg · 259 cases
- Western Missouri · 106.3 mo avg · 668 cases
- Eastern Kentucky · 102.8 mo avg · 390 cases
Read with Southern
ABS(avg_sentence) peers first, then a stamp-branched guide - not a fixed three-guide strip. This sheet stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-SEVERE · DISP-LONG · WITHIN-LOOSE · RANK-HARSH · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-8TH.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 112.4 mo (Δ 16.9 mo lenient vs Southern); 356 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 108.3 mo (Δ 21.0 mo lenient vs Southern); 259 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 106.3 mo (Δ 23.0 mo lenient vs Southern); 668 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 102.8 mo (Δ 26.5 mo lenient vs Southern); 390 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.
Southern stamps DISP-LONG on mix-adjusted disparity - the disparity guide explains offense-mix vs judicial variation.
Drug Trafficking led Southern at 131 cases (38% 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.