Opinion ID: 204206
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Consideration of rehabilitative goals in sentencing

Text: Finally, Bowman argues that the district court committed plain error by considering a lengthy federal imprisonment as a means of promoting his rehabilitation. This issue is now moot in light of our decision to remand the case for resentencing, but we deem a brief discussion of the issue helpful as guidance for the district court on remand. A circuit split exists on the issue of whether a sentencing court can consider a defendant's need for rehabilitation in determining the length of the prison term that should be imposed. See In re Sealed Case, 573 F.3d 844, 848-49 (D.C.Cir.2009) (collecting cases). And the government, in a supplemental Rule 28(j) letter, now takes the position that a district court may not consider the need for rehabilitation at a defendant's initial sentencing. This circuit, however, has construed [18 U.S.C.] § 3582(a) as barring the sentencing court from choosing prison, rather than a non-incarceration sentence, to promote rehabilitation, but allowing the court to select a longer prison term to promote rehabilitation. United States v. Jimenez, 605 F.3d 415, 424 (6th Cir.2010); accord United States v. Jackson, 70 F.3d 874, 879-80 (6th Cir.1995) (holding that a court may consider rehabilitative goals in determining where to sentence a defendant within a particular guideline range). The district court in this case considered the need to stop [Bowman's] criminal cycle, as well as provide [him] with some meaningful educational and correctional treatment. Bowman has in fact acknowledged that Jackson permits a district court within this circuit to consider rehabilitative goals during sentencing, but nevertheless raises the issue to preserve his claim in the event that we revisit the issue en banc or the Supreme Court resolves the issue in his favor.