Sentencing ranges are the periods of imprisonment set forth by state criminal law for different misdemeanors and felonies. The ranges, also called sentencing guidelines, give judges a minimum and maximum prison time and an advisory sentence that falls in the middle of the range.
For example, a Level 5 felony has a sentencing range of one to six years with a three-year advisory sentence. A sentence that exceeds a sentencing range could be ripe for a sentence modification request.
Due to legal reforms passed by the state in 2014, sentencing ranges received a substantial overhaul. If you were convicted under the old ranges, you might now have an opportunity to ask that your sentence be brought in line with the new range applicable to your case.