A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the consideration of acquitted conduct at sentencing.

# Summary of S 3483: Acquitted Conduct Sentencing Bill **What the bill would do:** This bill would prohibit federal judges from considering conduct that a defendant was acquitted of (found not guilty of) when deciding their sentence for crimes they were convicted of. Currently, judges can factor in acquitted conduct during sentencing, even if a jury found the defendant not guilty on those specific charges. The bill would change this practice by legally preventing judges from using acquitted conduct in sentencing decisions. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill would primarily affect federal defendants and the federal judicial system. It applies specifically to federal crimes and federal sentencing practices.

The legislation is straightforward in its approach—it would amend federal criminal law to establish that only conduct a defendant was convicted of can be considered at sentencing, not conduct they were acquitted of. **Current status:** S 3483 is currently in committee and has not been voted on by the full Senate. The bill was introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) in the 119th Congress. Bills in committee status typically undergo review and discussion before advancing to a full vote.