Judge Dan A. Polster — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Dan A. Polster sits in the Northern District of Ohio (NDOH) and granted a downward variance in 162 of 360 federal sentencings (45.0%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Dan A. Polster, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Dan A. Polster grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (162 below-guideline cases out of 360 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)43-41.4%
  2. 2.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities16-56.3%
  3. 3.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement14-32.4%
  4. 4.(5H1.4) Physical condition12-63.0%
  5. 5.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)11-34.2%
  6. 6.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)8-66.0%
  7. 7.Lack of Youthful Guidance7-25.1%
  8. 8.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse6-45.6%
  9. 9.Proposed changes to the 2D1.1 drug quantity table6-38.5%
  10. 10.General Guideline Adequacy Issues (aggregated reason)6-25.6%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Dan A. Polster

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Dan A. Polster's 299 Zone D sentencings, 129 (43.1%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended299 cases
  • Within range
    168(56.2%)
  • Below range
    129(43.1%)
    avg −38.0% below min
  • Above range
    2(0.7%)
    avg +26.6% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Dan A. Polster?

Want to see what those 162 below-guideline cases actually looked like? Just Metrics shows you the actual matched cases — same judge, same guideline chapter, same guideline range — and tells you what they did.

Just Metrics also surfaces Judge Dan A. Polster's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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