Opinion ID: 3065451
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Specific and General Deterrence

Text: [9] Section 3553(a)(2)(B) of Title 18 requires district courts to consider whether the sentence imposed “afford[s] adequate deterrence to criminal conduct[.]” The Government next argues that the district court improperly weighed the deterrent effect of its sentence. The district court concluded that the sentence of probation and the fact of a felony conviction would serve to deter Edwards from future wrongdoing. With respect to general deterrence, the district court agreed with the Government that general deterrence is more likely to occur in white collar crime cases, but found that general deterrence was not a significant factor “in a case like this.” The district court expressed doubt as to whether the goals of general deterrence would be served through a prison sentence for Edwards, and rejected that idea. Finally, the district court reasoned that its order of restitution would satisfy the requirement that Edwards’s sentence have general deterrent value, and a probationary sentence would best accomplish the goals of the restitution order because it would enable Edwards to earn the money he is required to pay. 8 The Government’s citation to our decision in United States v. Cherer, 513 F.3d 1150 (9th Cir. 2008) is not persuasive. The defendant in Cherer committed a crime while on probation for a prior, similar crime. Id. at 1160. Because the defendant did not take advantage of the first court’s leniency, the district court determined that a lengthy prison sentence was necessary to protect the public. Id. Our holding in Cherer that the district court did not abuse its discretion by sentencing the defendant to a lengthy prison term does not require district courts to provide lengthy sentences to all defendants who commit crimes while on probation. To hold otherwise would rob criminal defendants of the “individualized assessment based on the facts presented” to which they are entitled. Gall, 128 S. Ct. at 597. 2466 UNITED STATES v. EDWARDS The Government argues that district court abused its discretion by finding that it could meet the goal of deterrence as expressed in § 3553(a)(2)(B) with probation and restitution but not incarceration. For support, the Government points to commentary in the legislative history of the Sentencing Reform Act. The portion of the legislative history submitted by the Government indeed expresses the opinion that many cases involving white collar crime were disposed of with probation, “without due consideration being given to the fact that the heightened deterrent effect of incarceration and the readily perceivable receipt of just punishment accorded by incarceration were of critical importance.” S. Rep. No. 98-225, at 9192 (1983) as reprinted in 1984 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3182, 3274-75. Because of the increased importance of general deterrence in white collar crime cases, particularly where, as here, the defendant had previously committed a similar crime, the Government argues that not imposing a sentence of incarceration was reversible error. [10] We cannot find as a matter of law, however, that the failure to impose a sentence that includes a period of incarceration is a violation of § 3553(a) or inconsistent with the Sentencing Reform Act. We find no support for such a rule. Section 3553(a), for instance, does not require the goal of general deterrence be met through a period of incarceration.9 9 Nor does the legislative history, which is the only source the Government provides in support of its argument, unequivocally support its position. After the statement in the legislative history quoted by the Government, the legislative history continues by stating: This is not meant to imply that the Committee considers a sentence of imprisonment to be the only form of sentence that may effectively carry deterrent or punitive weight. It may very often be that release on probation under conditions designed to fit the particular situation will adequately satisfy any appropriate deterrent or punitive purpose. S. Rep. No. 98-225, at 92 (footnote omitted). As noted, see supra note 2, the district carefully crafted specific probationary terms designed to UNITED STATES v. EDWARDS 2467 The district court explicitly considered, weighed and factored into its sentence the important goal of deterrence. We hold that its consideration of the deterrent effect of its sentence was not an abuse of discretion.