Judge Sarah S. Vance — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance sits in the Eastern District of Louisiana (EDLA) and granted a downward variance in 48 of 182 federal sentencings (26.4%) from FY2012–FY2025. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Sarah S. Vance, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Sarah S. Vance grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (48 below-guideline cases out of 182 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)14-60.0%
  2. 2.(5H1.1) Age (Defendant's youth or old age)12-46.5%
  3. 3.Nonviolent Offense11-48.0%
  4. 4.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)9-29.4%
  5. 5.(5H1.5) Previous employment record7-74.7%
  6. 6.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities6-76.0%
  7. 7.Pursuant to a NONbinding (or unknown type) plea agreement5-81.1%
  8. 8.Mental and Emotional Conditions (aggregated reason)5-49.3%
  9. 9.Mule/Role in the offense5-39.0%
  10. 10.Provide Restitution to any victims of the offense4-82.5%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Sarah S. Vance

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Sarah S. Vance's 140 Zone D sentencings, 35 (25.0%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended140 cases
  • Within range
    97(69.3%)
  • Below range
    35(25.0%)
    avg −41.9% below min
  • Above range
    8(5.7%)
    avg +43.8% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Sarah S. Vance?

Want to see what those 48 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 Sarah S. Vance's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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