Sex Offenses · National · FY2015–FY2025
Sexual Abuse
Average imposed sentence 248.8 mo in FY2025 - longer-third average (> 72 mo) among 30 offense types.
- 248.8
- Avg months FY2025
- well above the national average
- 1,403
- Federal cases
- 41%
- Within guidelines
- typical guideline adherence
- 82%
- Guilty plea
The verdict
According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission FY2025 Individual Offender Datafiles, Sexual Abuse ranks #7 of 30 by caseload (1,403 cases) and #2 of 30 by average sentence (248.8 months).
- #7
- Caseload of 30
- #2
- Avg sentence of 30
- 248.8 months
- This offense avg FY2025
- 1,403
- This offense 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.
Sexual Abuse FY2024→FY2025: +14 mo
| Year | Cases | Avg (mo) | GL Min | GL Max | Within GL | Above GL | Below GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | 1,403 | 248.8 | 1002.0 | 359.3 | 41% | 5% | 54% |
| FY2024 | 1,421 | 234.8 | 1048.3 | 345.5 | 40% | 6% | 54% |
| FY2023 | 1,391 | 225.5 | 1103.2 | 359.9 | 36% | 6% | 58% |
| FY2022 | 1,496 | 223.0 | 998.7 | 358.4 | 39% | 5% | 57% |
| FY2021 | 1,061 | 233.7 | 1066.5 | 359.3 | 38% | 6% | 56% |
| FY2020 | 881 | 218.2 | 1065.3 | 338.2 | 40% | 4% | 56% |
| FY2019 | 1,159 | 229.0 | 1057.1 | 354.2 | 38% | 5% | 58% |
| FY2018 | 1,062 | 215.5 | 974.1 | 318.3 | 39% | 3% | 58% |
Sexual Abuse · hardest district slice
Among districts with ≥5 FY2025 cases, Northern Alabama posts the longest average (577.8 mo, 15 cases , +132.2% vs national).
Where sexual abuse sentences sit among all federal sentences (FY2025)
Each bar counts imposed federal prison terms in that length band; the marker is this offense's average.
249 97th percentile longer than 97% of 61,431 federal sentences
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more federal sentences. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Sentencing Commission, Individual Offender Datafiles · FY2025
Sexual Abuse - Top District Disparities (FY2025)
District Comparison (FY2025)
Districts with ≥5 FY2025 Sexual Abuse cases. Averages still mix case factors (history, quantity, cooperation).
| District | Cases | Avg (mo) | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Alabama | 15 | 577.8 | +132.2% |
| Kansas | 18 | 464.6 | +86.7% |
| Southern Georgia | 6 | 435.3 | +75.0% |
| Southern Indiana | 10 | 433.4 | +74.2% |
| Northern Texas | 43 | 426.7 | +71.5% |
| Northern Indiana | 6 | 402.0 | +61.6% |
| Northern Iowa | 8 | 376.3 | +51.2% |
| Western Tennessee | 10 | 341.7 | +37.3% |
| Eastern Texas | 12 | 339.2 | +36.3% |
| Eastern Kentucky | 20 | 325.7 | +30.9% |
| Southern Iowa | 15 | 320.1 | +28.7% |
| Northern Ohio | 13 | 315.1 | +26.6% |
| Southern Florida | 32 | 310.9 | +24.9% |
| Southern Ohio | 20 | 300.7 | +20.9% |
| Southern Alabama | 4 | 296.5 | +19.2% |
| Western Virginia | 6 | 296.3 | +19.1% |
| Eastern Missouri | 23 | 295.8 | +18.9% |
| Western Texas | 39 | 295.2 | +18.7% |
| Maryland | 25 | 295.1 | +18.6% |
| Middle North Carolina | 6 | 294.0 | +18.2% |
Nationwide peers · caseload or average sentence
Similar FY caseload
Nearest by ABS(1,403 cases).
- Child Pornography · 1,416 cases · Sex Offenses
- Money Laundering · 1,368 cases · Fraud/Financial
- Robbery · 1,242 cases · Violent Crime
- Other Offenses · 1,665 cases · Other
Similar average sentence
Nearest nationwide offense types by ABS(248.8 mo here; ≥50-case types).
- Murder · 298.8 mo avg · Violent Crime
- Kidnapping · 191.2 mo avg · Violent Crime
- Child Pornography · 121.6 mo avg · Sex Offenses
- Robbery · 111.1 mo avg · Violent Crime
Same-category peers · Sex Offenses
Source: United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), Individual Offender Datafiles, FY2015–FY2025 · Methodology
What the Sexual Abuse data shows
In FY2025, 1,403 federal defendants were sentenced for sexual abuse, with an average sentence of 248.8 months -- 196.9 months above the national average across all offenses.
- 41% of sexual abuse sentences in FY2025 fell within the guideline range, with 54% below (downward departures or variances, often for cooperation). The below-range rate reflects how frequently prosecutors offer departure motions for substantial assistance. How the guidelines work
- The highest-average district for sexual abuse in FY2025 was Northern Alabama, averaging 577.8 months -- 329 months above the national average. Case-specific factors within this offense (criminal history, quantity or aggravating circumstances, cooperation) drive that gap as much as any district-level pattern; the comparison below shows the full spread. Northern Alabama data
- The average sentence for sexual abuse has risen 33.3 months since FY2018 (FY2018: 215.5 mo; FY2025: 248.8 mo). The trend chart above compares actual sentences against the guideline midpoint each year. Post-Booker sentencing trends
Descriptive USSC aggregates, not legal advice; individual sentences depend on case-specific facts.
PlainSentencing is rendered directly from the United States Sentencing Commission Individual Offender Datafiles, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified. Report a data issue on this page.