Federal Drug Offenses: Departures from Sentencing Guidelines and Mandatory Minimum Sentences, Fiscal Years 1999-2001

October 2003 Federal Drug Offenses: Departures from Sentencing Guidelines and Mandatory Minimum Sentences, Fiscal Years 1999-2001 Generally, downward departures are defined as (1) substantial assistance departures, made at the prosecutor's request because the offender provided substantial assistance to the government; and (2) other downward departures made for other reasons, such as a plea agreement, a judge's consideration of mitigating factors, or early disposition, i.e., "fast track" programs initiated by prosecutors for low-level drug trafficking offenses. Of federal sentences for drug-related offenses in fiscal years 1999-2001, the majority (56 percent) was within applicable guideline . . .