Judge Donetta W. Ambrose — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose sits in the Western District of Pennsylvania (WDPA) and granted a downward variance in 71 of 141 federal sentencings (50.4%) from FY2012–FY2022. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Donetta W. Ambrose, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Donetta W. Ambrose grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (71 below-guideline cases out of 141 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities21-50.6%
  2. 2.(5H1.5) Previous employment record18-62.3%
  3. 3.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)18-45.4%
  4. 4.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants11-53.2%
  5. 5.Conduct on Release/Bond/Supervision9-74.8%
  6. 6.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement8-37.9%
  7. 7.Remorse7-76.4%
  8. 8.Rehabilitation7-40.1%
  9. 9.Lack of Youthful Guidance5-35.3%
  10. 10.(5H1.2) Educational and vocational skills5-22.6%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Donetta W. Ambrose

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Donetta W. Ambrose's 111 Zone D sentencings, 53 (47.7%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended111 cases
  • Within range
    55(49.5%)
  • Below range
    53(47.7%)
    avg −40.4% below min
  • Above range
    3(2.7%)
    avg +17.6% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Donetta W. Ambrose?

Want to see what those 71 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 Donetta W. Ambrose's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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