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AMENDMENTS TO THE GUIDELINES MANUAL

2024

AMENDMENT 268

Section 4B1.2(1) is amended by deleting "as used in this provision is defined under 18 U.S.C. § 16" and inserting in lieu thereof:

"means any offense under federal or state law punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year that --

(i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, or

(ii) is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another".

Section 4B1.2(2) is amended by deleting "as used in this provision" immediately before "means", and by deleting "identified in 21 U.S.C. §§841, 845(b), 856, 952(a), 955, 955(a), 959; and similar offenses" and inserting in lieu thereof:

"under a federal or state law prohibiting the manufacture, import, export, or distribution of a controlled substance (or a counterfeit substance) or the possession of a controlled substance (or a counterfeit substance) with intent to manufacture, import, export, or distribute".

The Commentary to §4B1.2 captioned "Application Notes" is amended by deleting:

"1. ‘Crime of violence’ is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 16 to mean an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or any other offense that is a felony and that by its nature involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in committing the offense. The Commission interprets this as follows: murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated assault, extortionate extension of credit, forcible sex offenses, arson, or robbery are covered by this provision. Other offenses are covered only if the conduct for which the defendant was specifically convicted meets the above definition. For example, conviction for an escape accomplished by force or threat of injury would be covered; conviction for an escape by stealth would not be covered. Conviction for burglary of a dwelling would be covered; conviction for burglary of other structures would not be covered.

2. ‘Controlled substance offense’ includes any federal or state offense that is substantially similar to any of those listed in subsection (2) of the guideline. These offenses include manufacturing, importing, distributing, dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, import, distribute, or dispense, a controlled substance (or a counterfeit substance). This definition also includes aiding and abetting, conspiring, or attempting to commit such offenses, and other offenses that are substantially equivalent to the offenses listed.",

and inserting in lieu thereof:

"1. The terms ‘crime of violence’ and ‘controlled substance offense’ include the offenses of aiding and abetting, conspiring, and attempting to commit such offenses.

2. ‘Crime of violence’ includes murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated assault, forcible sex offenses, robbery, arson, extortion, extortionate extension of credit, and burglary of a dwelling. Other offenses are included where (A) that offense has as an element the use attempted use, or threatened use, of physical force against the person of another, or (B) the conduct set forth in the count of which the defendant was convicted involved use of explosives or, by its nature, presented a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.".

The caption of §4B1.2 is amended by deleting "Definitions" and inserting in lieu thereof "Definitions of Terms Used in Section 4B1.1".

The Commentary to §4B1.2 captioned "Application Notes" is amended in Note 4 by deleting "§4A1.2(e) (Applicable Time Period), §4A1.2(h) (Foreign Sentences), and §4A1.2(j) (Expunged Convictions)" and inserting in lieu thereof "§4A1.2 (Definitions and Instructions for Computing Criminal History)", and by deleting the last sentence as follows: "Also applicable is the Commentary to §4A1.2 pertaining to invalid convictions.".

Reason for Amendment: The purpose of this amendment is to clarify the definitions of crime of violence and controlled substance offense used in this guideline. The definition of crime of violence used in this amendment is derived from 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). In addition, the amendment clarifies that all pertinent definitions and instructions in §4A1.2 apply to this section.

Effective Date: The effective date of this amendment is November 1, 1989.