Table 15:  Reasons Given for Departures Below the Guidelines
Departing Below
Reasons Given for . . . the Guidelines
No reasons given   2726  
Plea agreement   452  
Other/misc. departure   357  
Offender pleaded guilty/nolo contendre   114  
Prior adult record is very old   63  
Waiver Court   58  
Interest of justice   56  
Special Calendar Room Program   54  
Offender is drug dependent/needs treatment 52  
Crime relatively insignificant or less onerous than usual 45  
Offender has mental/emotional/psychological problems 45  
No prior adult record or minor adult record   34  
Recommendation of the prosecution   34  
Offender sentenced on other charges-current 33  
Drug Court   31  
Offender shows remorse   25  
Offender is supporting or caring for family/wife/other dependents 24  
To ensure long period of supervision after incarceration 23  
Offender is a good candidate for rehabilitation 22  
Offender is alcohol dependent/needs treatment 22  
Offender has a good prior employment record 19  
Weak prosecution evidence   19  
Offender is in poor physical health/needs hospitalization 17  
Offender is young   17  
Intent of justice   14  
Offender is employed/might lose job   12  
Offender needs treatment/not specified   11  
Family is supportive of offender   10  
Recommendation of the victim   10  
Offender did not cause or threaten injury   9  
Offender is old   9  
Prison (or more time in prison) will not serve a useful purpose 8  
Offender has positive attitude/demeanor   7  
Offender played a minor or passive role in the crime 7  
Offender serving sentence for other crime(s)-prior 7  
Court erred in calculating guideline ranges (PACS) 6  
Recommendation of the defense attorney   6  
Offender did not intend to violate the law   4  
Offender has responsible/important position in community 4  
Offender's family is ill/needed at home   4  
Police recommendation   4  
Recommendation of the court staff/PSI   4  
It is rough/it is sufficient   3  
Minimum guidelines exceed statutory limit   3  
Off. has good reputation in comm./good family background 3  
Offender is unemployed   3  
Prior juvenile record is very old   3  
Recommendation of character witnesses   3  
Non-violent prior adult record   2  
Offender WAS determined to be a sexually violent predator 2  
Offender is productive citizen   2  
Offender made/attempted to make restitution to victim 2  
Offender not a threat to society   2  
Offender on bail or probation/parole on other charges 2  
Offender waived a jury trial (Save city cost of trial) 2  
Offender was an accomplice only   2  
Victims were friends/acquaintances   2  
Victims were members of offender's family 2  
Evidence supports offender's justification   1  
Guideline sentences are too severe   1  
Guideline sentences inappropriate   1  
Keep in county jail   1  
Offender acted under coercion or duress but not sufficient to remove guilt 1  
Offender has not been incarcerated before 1  
Offender is attending school   1  
Offender is pregnant/offender's wife is pregnant 1  
Offender's conduct has improved   1  
Offense out of character for offender   1  
Prior record score overstates offender's prior record 1  
Rule 1100 problem (180 day rule) (Speedy Trial) 1  
To enable restitution to be made   1  
* More than one reason may be reported for a single offfense.