What does the Southern district docket plate read for FY2025?

Southern Texas stamps BOOK-DENSE · SENT-SHORT · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-TIGHT · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-5TH at 21.4 mo (shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo)) across 7,545 USSC cases, ranking #84/88 by average sentence.

How does Southern compare on mix-adjusted disparity?

Mix-adjusted disparity was -7.5% in FY2025 (DISP-SHORT) - 68% within guidelines, 30% below (rarer below-guideline share (≤ 47%)).

Where does Southern sit among USSC districts?

#2 of 93 by FY2025 caseload (upper-third caseload (> 506 cases)); #84 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.

5th Circuit · Texas · FY2015–FY2025

Southern Texas District

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

Average imposed sentence 21.4 mo in FY2025 - shorter-third average (≤ 68 mo) among 88 districts (≥100 cases).

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

21.4
Avg months FY2025: well below the national average; 7,545
Federal cases: 68%
Within guidelines: high guideline adherence; -7.5%
Disparity vs natl

RSS updates

The verdict

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Southern Texas District ranks #2 of 93 by caseload (7,545 cases) and #84 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by average sentence (21.4 months).

#2
Caseload of 93: #84
Avg sentence of 88: 21.4 months
This district avg FY2025: 7,545
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-DENSE Dense book SENT-SHORT 21 mo avg DISP-SHORT -7.5% short WITHIN-TIGHT 68% within RANK-LENIENT #84/88 lenient PHOTO-NEAR Near Western CIR-5TH 5th

FY2025: 7,545 cases at 21.4 mo average · #84/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted -7.5% (DISP-SHORT). Nearest ABS peer: Western (-0.2 mo).

Arizona

17.4
Southern · near

19
New · near

19.7
Western · near

21.2
Southern

21.4
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: -6.9 mo avg

Southern Texas: FY2025 average 21.4 mo (-6.9 vs FY2024); caseload +1,423. Chart = avg vs guideline midpoint.

Year	Cases	Avg (mo)	Within GL	Above GL	Below GL
FY2025	7,545	21.4	68%	2%	30%
FY2024	6,122	28.3	55%	2%	43%
FY2023	6,425	28.1	51%	3%	46%
FY2022	7,274	27.2	45%	3%	51%
FY2021	8,052	24.2	47%	3%	50%
FY2020	8,538	17.4	59%	2%	39%
FY2019	7,815	24.5	57%	3%	40%
FY2018	6,138	32.3	58%	3%	38%
FY2017	6,635	31.1	63%	4%	32%
FY2016	6,482	33.9	56%	2%	42%
FY2015	6,229	35.0	57%	2%	41%

Top Offenses (FY2025)

1

Immigration

6049 cases · 10.3 mo avg

2

Drug Trafficking

623 cases · 79.2 mo avg

3

Firearms

276 cases · 45.4 mo avg

4

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

166 cases · 22.5 mo avg

5

National Defense

66 cases · 23.6 mo avg

6

Money Laundering

60 cases · 35.5 mo avg

7

Child Pornography

52 cases · 123.4 mo avg

8

Robbery

48 cases · 128.5 mo avg

9

Sexual Abuse

47 cases · 235.9 mo avg

10

Administration of Justice Offenses

29 cases · 14.5 mo avg

Sentencing Disparity

-7.5%

vs. national average (FY2025)

Immigration

6,049
Drug Trafficking

623
Firearms

276
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

166
National Defense

66
Money Laundering

60
Child Pornography

52
Robbery

48
Sexual Abuse

47
Administration of

29

What this shows Immigration was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 6,049 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(7,545 cases here).

Western Texas · 10,416 cases · 5th Circuit
Arizona · 4,134 cases · 9th Circuit
New Mexico · 2,699 cases · 10th Circuit
Southern California · 2,661 cases · 9th Circuit

Similar average sentence

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(21.4 mo here; ≥100-case books).

Western Texas · 21.2 mo avg · 10,416 cases
New Mexico · 19.7 mo avg · 2,699 cases
Southern California · 19.0 mo avg · 2,661 cases
Arizona · 17.4 mo avg · 4,134 cases

Read with Southern

ABS(avg_sentence) peers first, then a stamp-branched guide - not a fixed three-guide strip. This sheet stamps BOOK-DENSE · SENT-SHORT · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-TIGHT · RANK-LENIENT · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-5TH.

Western · 21 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 21.2 mo (Δ 0.2 mo lenient vs Southern); 10,416 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

New · 20 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 19.7 mo (Δ 1.7 mo lenient vs Southern); 2,699 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Southern · 19 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 19.0 mo (Δ 2.4 mo lenient vs Southern); 2,661 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Arizona · 17 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 17.4 mo (Δ 4.0 mo lenient vs Southern); 4,134 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Caseload board · BOOK-DENSE

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

Immigration · lead offense

Immigration led Southern at 6,049 cases (80% 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/.