Law Library  Massachusetts Sentencing Guidelines

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgments 
• Considerations and Cautions 
• Introduction 
• Minority Report 
• Mission and Purposes 
• Trial Court Sentencing Best Practices 
• Step 1 / Chapter 1: Bias Check – Stop and Review Ten Best Practices 
• Step 2 / Chapter 2: Review Victims Communication Best Practices 
• Step 3 / Chapter 3: Determine Offense Seriousness Level 
• Step 4 / Chapter 4: Determine Criminal History Category 
• Step 5 / Chapter 5: Locate the Appropriate Grid Cell / Sentencing Grid 
• Step 6 / Chapter 6: Considerations in Imposing an Incarcerated Sentence 
• Step 7 / Chapter 7: Considerations in Imposing a Non-Committed Sentence 
• Step 8 / Chapter 8: Depart from the Sentencing Guidelines Range 
• Step 9 / Chapter 9: Sentence for Offenses with Mandatory Minimums 
• Step 10 / Chapter 10: Determine the Nature of the Sentence 
• Step 11/ Chapter 11: Structure Incentives and Rewards into the Incarcerated Sentence and/or Probation 
• Step 12 / Chapter 12: Record Sentence, Demographic and Race Information Consider Making a Personal Record 
• Step 13 / Chapter 13: Appealing a Sentence 
• Appendices