What does the Southern district docket plate read for FY2025?

Southern West Virginia stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-LONG · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-4TH at 75.5 mo across 216 USSC cases (lower-third caseload (≤ 335 cases)), ranking #42/88 by average sentence.

How does Southern compare on mix-adjusted disparity?

Mix-adjusted disparity was -10.0% in FY2025 (DISP-SHORT) - 42% within guidelines, 54% below (mid below-guideline share (≤ 64%)).

Where does Southern sit among USSC districts?

#78 of 93 by FY2025 caseload (lower-third caseload (≤ 335 cases)); #42 of 88 by average sentence (mid-pack average (≤ 82 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.

4th Circuit · West Virginia · FY2015–FY2025

Southern West Virginia District

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

216 federal cases in FY2025 - lower-third caseload (≤ 335 cases).

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

75.5
Avg months FY2025: above the national average; 216
Federal cases: 42%
Within guidelines: typical guideline adherence; -10.0%
Disparity vs natl

Southern caseload fingerprint · FY2025

Only 216 FY2025 cases landed in Southern West Virginia (lower-third caseload (≤ 335 cases)). Sparse books make the lead offense and below-guideline share carry more of the story. YoY caseload -14 vs FY2024. Case-row mean OL 4.0 (OL≥6 32%) ; 89% male / 4% non-citizen.

Mean CH: 0.91
Avg sentence: 75.5 mo
No prior (CH=0): 9%
Below GL: 54%

RSS updates

The verdict

According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Southern West Virginia District ranks #78 of 93 by caseload (216 cases) and #42 of 88 districts with at least 100 cases by average sentence (75.5 months).

#78
Caseload of 93: #42
Avg sentence of 88: 75.5 months
This district avg FY2025: 216
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-LIGHT Light book SENT-LONG 76 mo avg DISP-SHORT -10.0% short WITHIN-MID 42% within RANK-MID #42/88 PHOTO-NEAR Near Northern CIR-4TH 4th

FY2025: 216 cases at 75.5 mo average · #42/88 harshest-rank · mix-adjusted -10.0% (DISP-SHORT). Nearest ABS peer: Northern (+1.1 mo).

Arizona

17.4
Minnesota · near

74.2
Southern

75.5
Northern · near

76.6
Northern · near

76.8
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: +7.5 mo avg

Southern West Virginia: FY2025 average 75.5 mo (+7.5 vs FY2024); caseload -14. Chart = avg vs guideline midpoint.

Year	Cases	Avg (mo)	Within GL	Above GL	Below GL
FY2025	216	75.5	42%	3%	54%
FY2024	230	68.0	37%	2%	61%
FY2023	227	74.0	45%	4%	51%
FY2022	269	71.4	45%	2%	53%
FY2021	220	70.3	49%	4%	47%
FY2020	262	53.2	57%	2%	42%
FY2019	315	52.6	58%	2%	40%
FY2018	239	57.8	54%	5%	41%
FY2017	221	54.0	49%	4%	46%
FY2016	217	40.1	52%	5%	43%
FY2015	284	44.1	57%	1%	42%

Top Offenses (FY2025)

1

Drug Trafficking

92 cases · 88.8 mo avg

2

Firearms

45 cases · 47.1 mo avg

3

Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

19 cases · 19.1 mo avg

4

Immigration

11 cases · 8.0 mo avg

5

Sexual Abuse

8 cases · 262.8 mo avg

6

Prison Offenses

7 cases · 12.3 mo avg

7

Individual Rights

7 cases · 149.9 mo avg

8

Money Laundering

6 cases · 12.0 mo avg

9

Child Pornography

5 cases · 73.2 mo avg

10

Tax

4 cases · 27.0 mo avg

Sentencing Disparity

-10.0%

vs. national average (FY2025)

Drug Trafficking

92
Firearms

45
Fraud/Theft/Embezzlement

19
Immigration

11
Sexual Abuse

8
Prison Offenses

7
Individual Rights

7
Money Laundering

6
Child Pornography

5
Tax

4

What this shows Drug Trafficking was the most common offense in this district, accounting for 92 of the cases sentenced in FY2025.

Nationwide districts with similar caseload or average sentence

Sparse-book Southern peer sets: FY2025 caseload nearest-neighbors and ABS(average sentence) peers - volume matches matter more when the local book is thin.

Similar FY caseload

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(216 cases here).

Central Illinois · 218 cases · 7th Circuit
Vermont · 210 cases · 2nd Circuit
Nevada · 202 cases · 9th Circuit
Southern Illinois · 240 cases · 7th Circuit

Similar average sentence

Nearest nationwide districts by ABS(75.5 mo here; ≥100-case books).

Northern Ohio · 76.6 mo avg · 662 cases
Minnesota · 74.2 mo avg · 396 cases
Northern West Virginia · 76.8 mo avg · 326 cases
Eastern New York · 74.0 mo avg · 604 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-LONG · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-4TH.

Northern · 77 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 76.6 mo (Δ 1.1 mo harsher vs Southern); 662 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Minnesota · 74 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 74.2 mo (Δ 1.3 mo lenient vs Southern); 396 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Northern · 77 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 76.8 mo (Δ 1.3 mo harsher vs Southern); 326 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Eastern · 74 mo

ABS(avg_sentence) peer at 74.0 mo (Δ 1.5 mo lenient vs Southern); 604 FY2025 cases · same USSC book axis as this sheet.

Plea motion · 54% below GL

Southern stamps BOOK-LIGHT · SENT-LONG · DISP-SHORT · WITHIN-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-NEAR · CIR-4TH - the reading guide shows how to interpret USSC averages without conflating mix and severity.

Drug · lead offense

Drug Trafficking led Southern at 92 cases (43% 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/.