Opinion ID: 212239
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Text and Structure of Section 4A1.2(c)

Text: Chapter 4, Part A, Subpart 1 of the Sentencing Guidelines governs calculation of a defendant's criminal history score. Criminal history points are accumulated when prior sentences meet qualifying criteria but do not also satisfy exclusionary criteria. Qualifying criteria include, among others, the nature of the offense (e.g., felony or misdemeanor, section 4A1.2(c)), the length of imprisonment imposed (e.g., sentences exceeding 13 months and those not, section 4A1.1(a)), and the timing of the commission of the instant offense (e.g., while on probation or supervised release, section 4A1.1(d)). Exclusionary criteria are numerous and include, among others, the nature of the offense (e.g., fish and game violations, § 4A1.2(c)(2)), the age of the conviction (e.g., misdemeanor conviction imposed more than ten years prior to commencement of the instant offense, § 4A1.2(e)(2)), and the identity of the court imposing the sentence (e.g., sentences imposed by foreign tribunals, § 4A1.2(h)). Exclusions trump qualifying criteria. Thus, for example, although all felonies are counted, felonies that are more than fifteen years old are omitted from the criminal history calculation. As the Commentary to this subpart of the Guidelines repeatedly states, [c]ertain prior sentences are not counted or are counted only under certain conditions. U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1, Application Notes 1, 2, & 3. Section 4A1.2(c) of the Sentencing Guidelines follows the same general approach as the subpart, identifying qualifying and exclusionary criteria used by the sentencing court to determine whether a prior sentence is included or excluded from the criminal history calculation. The section addresses which sentences are counted [2] by classifying all prior convictions into three groups based on the nature of the crime of conviction for which the sentence was imposed: (1) sentences that are counted, U.S.S.G. § 4A1.2(c); (2) those that are counted subject to possible exception, id. § 4A1.2(c)(1); and (3) those that are never counted, id. § 4A1.2(c)(2). The first group of sentencesthose always countedincludes all felonies. Regardless of the nature of the conduct underlying the felony, it is countedand felonies are the only class of sentences always counted under this section. Id. § 4A1.2(c) (Sentences for all felony offenses are counted.). The second group of sentencesthose counted unless an exception appliesincludes all misdemeanor and petty offenses. Sentences for the offenses listed in section 4A1.2(c)(1) and offenses similar to them, by whatever name they are known, are counted only if (A) the sentence was a term of probation of more than one year or a term of imprisonment of at least thirty days, or (B) the prior offense was similar to an offense for which the defendant is now being sentenced. Id. § 4A1.2(c)(1). Thus, misdemeanor and petty offenses of the type listed in section 4A1.2(c)(1) are excluded provided, among other things, that the sentences imposed were not too severe. The list of offenses that are not counted unless one of the specified conditions applies includes [c]areless or reckless driving. Id. The third group of sentencesthose never countedincludes a list of specified minor offenses. Sentences for the offenses listed in section 4A1.2(c)(2) and offenses similar to them, by whatever name they are known, are never counted. Id. § 4A1.2(c)(2). Thus, unlike the offenses listed in section 4A1.2(c)(1), sentences for offenses listed in section 4A1.2(c)(2) are not counted, regardless of the severity of the sentence imposed for such a conviction and regardless of any similarity between the listed offense and the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. The list of offenses that are never counted includes [m]inor traffic infractions ( e.g., speeding). Id.