Speech #1090180325

Downward departures increased for these offenses to levels that had not existed since enactment of the PROTECT Act in The Sentencing Commissions report shows that in the last year there has been a sixfold increase in below guideline range sentences for defendants convicted of sexual abuse of a minor. a fivefold increase in below guideline range sentences for defendants convicted of sexual exploitation of a child. a 50 percent increase in below guideline range sentences for defendants convicted of sexual contact of a minor. trafficking in child pornography. and possession of child pornography. The report also shows an increase in overall departure rates for nearly all Federal offenses ENSIONS OF REMARKS. Vol. 152. Pt. 16 across all Federal jurisdictions. including drug trafficking offenses. firearms offenses. theft and fraud offenses. and immigration offenses. These four offense types comprise 75 percent of all Federal cases annually. According to current sentencing data. the rate of downward departures has not improved.