A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the consideration of acquitted conduct at sentencing.
Key claim: This Senate bill would stop federal judges from using conduct a defendant was found not guilty of when deciding the sentence.
Abstract
(S3483 · 119th Congress) This bill limits the consideration of acquitted conduct (e.g., conduct underlying criminal charges for which an individual was found not guilty) by a federal court at sentencing. Latest action (2025-12-15): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S8737)
Why this matters
Federal judges can currently increase sentences based on conduct for which a jury acquitted the defendant, a practice critics say undermines the jury’s not-guilty verdict and due process. This bill would statutorily bar that practice, narrowing judicial discretion at sentencing and giving acquittals more practical weight. Introduction signals continued congressional interest but not enactment.