MOTION FOR REDUCTION OF SENTENCE

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE [DISTRICT NAME] DISTRICT OF [STATE]

INTRODUCTION

Defendant respectfully moves this Honorable Court pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) for a reduction of sentence based on a retroactive amendment to the United States Sentencing Guidelines that has lowered the applicable guideline range. This motion is consistent with the policy statement set forth in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10.

PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST

Before filing this motion, verify the following requirements:

☐ Defendant was sentenced based on a guideline range
☐ A retroactive guideline amendment listed in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(d) applies
☐ The amendment has the effect of lowering Defendant's guideline range
☐ Reduction is consistent with applicable policy statements
☐ The § 3553(a) factors support a reduction
☐ The requested sentence is at or above the amended guideline range (unless original sentence was below the range)

PART I: DEFENDANT INFORMATION

1. Defendant's Full Legal Name:
_____________________________________________________________

2. Current Place of Confinement:

3. Projected Release Date:
_____________________________________________________________

4. Time Served (as of date of motion):
_____________________________________________________________

PART II: CASE INFORMATION

5. Court Information:

6. Offense(s) of Conviction:

7. Date of Sentencing:
_____________________________________________________________

8. Original Sentence Imposed:

PART III: ORIGINAL SENTENCING CALCULATION

9. Original Guideline Calculation:

10. Original Criminal History:

11. Original Guideline Range:

12. Original Sentence Relative to Guidelines:

☐ Within the guideline range
☐ Below the guideline range (departure or variance)
☐ Above the guideline range (departure or variance)
☐ At the statutory minimum

PART IV: RETROACTIVE AMENDMENT APPLICABILITY

13. Retroactive Amendment(s) Relied Upon:

U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(d) lists the amendments that may be applied retroactively. Check applicable amendment(s):

☐ Amendment 821 (Parts A and B) - 2023 Criminal History Amendment (effective November 1, 2023; retroactive)
- Part A: Status Points (reduces § 4A1.1(e) status points)
- Part B: Zero-Point Offenders (new § 4C1.1 adjustment)

☐ Amendment 782 - Drug Quantity Tables (2014)

☐ Amendment 750 - Crack Cocaine (Fair Sentencing Act implementation)

☐ Amendment 706 - Crack Cocaine (2007)

☐ Other Amendment (specify): ________________________________
- Amendment Number: _______
- Effective Date: _______

14. Explanation of How Amendment Applies:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

PART V: AMENDED GUIDELINE CALCULATION

For Amendment 821 - Part A (Status Points):

15. Status Points Reduction Analysis:

Under amended § 4A1.1(e), status points are reduced or eliminated:

Defendant's Status Points:

For Amendment 821 - Part B (Zero-Point Offenders):

16. Zero-Point Offender Analysis (U.S.S.G. § 4C1.1):

A defendant qualifies for a 2-level reduction under § 4C1.1 if, at the time of sentencing:

☐ (1) Defendant did not receive any criminal history points under § 4A1.1

☐ (2) Defendant did not receive an adjustment under § 3A1.4 (terrorism)

☐ (3) Defendant did not use violence, credible threats of violence, or possess a firearm in connection with the offense

☐ (4) The offense did not result in death or serious bodily injury

☐ (5) The instant offense is not a sex offense

☐ (6) Defendant did not personally cause substantial financial hardship

☐ (7) Defendant did not possess, receive, purchase, transport, or traffic a firearm or other dangerous weapon in connection with the offense

☐ (8) The instant offense is not covered by § 2H1.1 (offenses involving individual rights)

☐ (9) Defendant did not receive an adjustment under § 3A1.1 (hate crime motivation) or § 3A1.5 (serious human rights offense)

☐ (10) Defendant did not receive an adjustment under § 3B1.1 (aggravating role) AND was not engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise

Does Defendant qualify for § 4C1.1 reduction?

☐ Yes - 2-level reduction applies
☐ No - Explain disqualifying factor(s): _______________________________

For Other Amendments:

17. Amended Guideline Calculation:

18. Amended Criminal History:

19. Amended Guideline Range:

PART VI: REQUESTED SENTENCE

20. Sentence Requested:

Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(b)(2), the court shall not reduce the defendant's term of imprisonment to a term less than the minimum of the amended guideline range, except in limited circumstances.

21. Basis for Requested Sentence:

☐ Requesting reduction to the low end of the amended guideline range
☐ Requesting reduction to the middle of the amended guideline range
☐ Requesting proportional reduction (original sentence was below range)
☐ Requesting reduction to time served
☐ Other: _____________________________________________________

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

PART VII: 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) FACTORS

The Court must consider the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to the extent they are applicable.

22. Nature and Circumstances of the Offense:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

23. History and Characteristics of the Defendant:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

24. Post-Sentencing Conduct and Rehabilitation:

25. Specific Evidence of Rehabilitation:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

26. Need for the Sentence Imposed:

☐ To reflect the seriousness of the offense
☐ To promote respect for the law
☐ To provide just punishment
☐ To afford adequate deterrence
☐ To protect the public from further crimes
☐ To provide needed training, medical care, or other treatment

Explain why the requested reduction satisfies these purposes:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

27. Need to Avoid Unwarranted Sentencing Disparities:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

28. Restitution and Financial Obligations:

PART VIII: PUBLIC SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

29. Defendant's Post-Release Plan:

30. Risk Assessment:

☐ Low risk to public safety
☐ Moderate risk to public safety
☐ Other factors regarding dangerousness: ___________________________

Supporting Information:
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

PART IX: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

31. Attachments:

☐ Judgment and Commitment Order
☐ Statement of Reasons
☐ Presentence Investigation Report (under seal)
☐ Amended Guideline Calculation Worksheet
☐ BOP Institutional Record
☐ Program Completion Certificates
☐ Letters of Support
☐ Re-entry Plan
☐ Other: _____________________________________________________

PART X: REQUEST FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Defendant respectfully requests that this Honorable Court:

☐ 1. Grant this Motion for Reduction of Sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2);

☐ 2. Reduce Defendant's term of imprisonment from _______ months to _______ months;

☐ 3. In the alternative, reduce Defendant's sentence to time served;

☐ 4. Amend the Judgment to reflect the reduced sentence;

☐ 5. Appoint counsel to assist Defendant with this motion (if not represented);

☐ 6. Grant such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

PART XI: VERIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

I, _________________________________, declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Executed on: ______________________ (Date)

At: _______________________________ (City, State)

_________________________________
Defendant's Signature

_________________________________
Printed Name

_________________________________
BOP Register Number

Attorney Information (if represented):

_________________________________
Attorney Name

_________________________________
Bar Number

_________________________________
Address

_________________________________
Phone / Email

PART XII: CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on _________________ (date), I served a copy of this Motion for Reduction of Sentence on:

United States Attorney:
[Name]
[Address]
[City, State ZIP]

United States Probation Office:
[Name]
[Address]
[City, State ZIP]

By: ☐ U.S. Mail, first class, postage prepaid
☐ Electronic filing (CM/ECF)
☐ Hand delivery
☐ Other: ___________________

_________________________________
Signature

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

California (Central, Northern, Southern, Eastern Districts)

• Ninth Circuit precedent applies to § 3582(c)(2) motions
• Ninth Circuit has specific case law on proportional reductions
• Consider United States v. Dunn and Ninth Circuit guidance
• Local rules may require specific formatting

Texas (Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western Districts)

• Fifth Circuit precedent applies
• Fifth Circuit has addressed scope of § 3582(c)(2) relief
• Consider Dillon v. United States limitations
• District-specific practices may vary

Florida (Northern, Middle, Southern Districts)

• Eleventh Circuit precedent applies
• Review Eleventh Circuit guidance on Amendment 821
• Consider career offender issues if applicable
• Southern District has significant caseload

New York (Southern, Eastern, Northern, Western Districts)

• Second Circuit precedent applies
• Second Circuit has addressed various § 3582(c)(2) issues
• SDNY and EDNY have substantial experience with these motions
• Consider local rules and practices

AMENDMENT 821 SUMMARY

Amendment 821, effective November 1, 2023, made retroactive by the U.S. Sentencing Commission:

Part A - Status Points (§ 4A1.1(e)):

• Reduces impact of "status points" (committing offense while under criminal justice supervision)
• For CHC I or II: Status points reduced to 0
• For CHC III or higher: Status points reduced from 2 to 1

Part B - Zero-Point Offenders (§ 4C1.1):

• New 2-level reduction for qualifying first-time offenders
• Ten eligibility criteria must be satisfied
• Significant impact on drug trafficking and fraud cases

Estimated Impact:

• Approximately 17,000+ federal prisoners may be eligible
• Average sentence reduction of approximately 11.7%

KEY LEGAL AUTHORITIES

ATTACHMENTS CHECKLIST

☐ Original Judgment and Commitment Order
☐ Original Statement of Reasons
☐ Presentence Investigation Report (under seal)
☐ Guideline Calculation Worksheet (original and amended)
☐ BOP Progress Report / Institutional Record
☐ Educational/Vocational Certificates
☐ Letters of Support
☐ Re-entry Plan
☐ Proposed Amended Judgment

This template addresses motions for sentence reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Eligibility depends on whether a retroactive guideline amendment applies to lower the defendant's sentencing range. Consult current U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(d) for the complete list of retroactive amendments and applicable circuit precedent.