Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins — Federal Sentencing Patterns

U.S. District Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins sits in the Northern District of Alabama (NDAL) and granted a downward variance in 74 of 173 federal sentencings (42.8%) from FY2012–FY2018. This page shows aggregate sentencing patterns for Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins, including the most common reasons cited on the Statement of Reasons (SOR) for granting a downward variance.

Top reasons Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins grants downward variances

Reasons included across all guideline chapters (74 below-guideline cases out of 173 cases identified)

ReasonCasesAvg % Below Min
  1. 1.Avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among defendants31-47.3%
  2. 2.Criminal History Issues (aggregated reason)25-59.2%
  3. 3.(5H1.6) Family ties and responsibilities21-57.7%
  4. 4.Reduce Disparity (aggregated reason)14-49.3%
  5. 5.Low Likelihood of Recidivism13-60.6%
  6. 6.Provide Restitution to any victims of the offense8-87.4%
  7. 7.Acceptance of responsibility8-65.4%
  8. 8.(5H1.5) Previous employment record8-63.4%
  9. 9.(5H1.4) Drug dependence and alcohol abuse6-55.8%
  10. 10.Rehabilitation6-51.9%

Zone D sentencing variance — Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins

Imprisonment-only recommended sentencing zone (offense level 14+ at any criminal history). Of Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins's 127 Zone D sentencings, 47 (37.0%) fell below range.

Zone D · imprisonment recommended127 cases
  • Within range
    77(60.6%)
  • Below range
    47(37.0%)
    avg −40.8% below min
  • Above range
    3(2.4%)
    avg +46.3% above max

Need case-level analysis for Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins?

Want to see what those 74 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 Virginia Emerson Hopkins's trial tax (sentences after trial vs. plea) and the average §5K1.1 cooperation discount.

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