The U.S. Sentencing Commission has published a new fact sheet on federal offenses involving force or threats against a person. The numbers cover fiscal year 2023 and highlight how often federal courts see cases involving homicide, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, child pornography and other crimes with identifiable victims.
It’s an informative compendium of federal sentencings that year—but it’s just a snapshot, a single year of data detailing a fraction of the crime that occurs in the United States. Experts agree that crime is sharply down since the pandemic, but without trends over time, it’s hard to say whether federal prosecutions are increasing, decreasing, or holding steady. And in the context of the entire U.S. population, the share of people affected by these cases is very small.
The Numbers at a Glance
According tot he Sentencing Commission data, in 2023, there were 3,736 federal cases involving offenses against the person. Out of those, about 2,700 cases had at least one victim who was a person, and the Commission identified more than 6,600 individual victims.
The vast majority of cases had a single victim; others involved many. In fact, one case is listed as involving 607 victims, but the Commission provided no additional specifics
While these figures may sound large, it’s important to keep them in perspective.
What Are the Chances?
With a U.S. population of around 335 million, being counted as a victim in a federal case involving force or threats is rare. Based on the Commission’s numbers, the chance of being a victim in one of these cases in a given year is about 1 in 50,000 (0.002%).
That’s because most violent crimes in the U.S. are prosecuted in state courts, not federal ones. The federal system covers only a fraction of cases, often those with interstate or special federal statutes.
Types of Harm
The Commission also categorized how victims were affected:
- Bodily injury was the most common type of harm (41%).
- Financial harm accounted for 31%.
- Death was reported in 13% of cases.
- Psychological/emotional harm was present in 11%.
These categories show that “force or threat” can mean more than physical injury. Financial and emotional consequences are significant parts of the federal caseload. The Fact Sheet listed 71 child pornography cases involving victims.
Relationships Between Victims and Defendants
Another insight: 52% of victims were strangers to the person accused. 17% were acquaintances, and smaller percentages were family members, coworkers, or law enforcement officers.
Victim Characteristics
- 10% of victims were juveniles (under 18).
- 35% were female, 65% male.
- About 6% were considered unusually vulnerable due to age, disability, or other factors.
These characteristics matter because they can influence how federal sentencing guidelines are applied. For example, the presence of a particularly vulnerable victim can lead to a sentence enhancement.
Restitution
Despite the thousands of victims, restitution was ordered in only 14% of cases. In most cases, no financial compensation was ordered through the courts.
Why This Information Matters
For people facing federal charges, the fact sheet is a reminder of how federal prosecutors frame cases. Judges don’t just consider what happened—they also weigh the number of victims, the type of harm, the relationship between the defendant and the victim, and whether any victims were especially vulnerable.
Even though the overall risk of being involved in one of these federal cases is extremely low, for defendants and their families, the consequences are serious and long-lasting.
How ZMO Law Can Help
If you or a loved one is facing charges in federal court, it’s important to understand how the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and local court practices can affect your case. At ZMO Law, we defend clients in:
We know how prosecutors use this kind of data, and we push back when the facts don’t tell the whole story.
Final Takeaway
The U.S. Sentencing Commission’s new fact sheet offers useful detail on who is affected by federal crimes involving force, threats, and emotional harm like child pornography. But it’s a snapshot, not a trend. And in the context of the entire U.S. population, the chances of being a victim in a prosecuted federal case remains tiny.
For federal defendants, though, the impact of a single case is enormous. If you’re facing federal charges, the numbers aren’t abstract—they’re your future. If you are busted by the feds, contact us for more information about your specific situation.