| If you have been indicted on a federal crime and | | | | If you have no criminal history this will be a big zero |
| wish to know how much federal time you'll have on | | | | (0). This will make your prison sentence extremely |
| your proposed sentence, should you lose the trial, | | | | small. If you are a crime boss having hundreds of |
| there is an easy way to calculate how long your | | | | arrests, then this will add on to your time. Basically, |
| sentence will be. The algorithm used is not so | | | | the more crime you were caught for in the past, the |
| complex as some may think and can be figured in | | | | more time you'll be given in the federal penitentiary. |
| mere minutes. | | | | Armed with these two numbers, you'll look up the |
| The first step is get the publication for criminal | | | | Federal Sentencing Guidelines Chart and plug in your |
| offenses (this publication is located on the site listed | | | | "Base Level" number on the right column (1-43), and |
| below). Knowing what you are charged with you | | | | then apply your "Criminal History" number on the top |
| simply look up the "base" number and add any | | | | row and work your way down to your min/max |
| additional circumstances. This "base number" ranges | | | | sentence time. As well, this is not an exact science |
| from 1 to 43; 1 being a tiny crime and 43... well... that's | | | | and your time can be lessened with a good attorney |
| a major infraction of the law. | | | | - consult one. |
| Now, knowing your criminal history is the next step. | | | | |