The United States Sentencing Commission announced the creation of two new advisory groups and public training dates during its March 1, 2025, public meeting.

Chair Carlton W. Reeves said the commission created a Sentence Impact Advisory Group to ensure that people who have served federal sentences and their families can directly shape the commission’s work, and an Ad Hoc Research and Data Practices Advisory Group to help the commission understand and incorporate research and data best practices. "You can apply to serve on these advisory groups by visiting our website, www.ussc.gov. The application deadline is June 6," Reeves said.

Reeves also announced the commission’s annual training seminars. A judges-only seminar will be held June 25–27 in Chicago. The commission-wide national training seminar will be held Aug. 19–21 in Salt Lake City, Utah; the chair said national registration will open next week and that judges’ registration remains open now.

Why it matters: the advisory groups create formalized channels for impacted people, practitioners and researchers to contribute to the commission’s rulemaking and policy development. The seminars are part of the commission’s annual education efforts for judges and other stakeholders.

No formal vote was required to create the advisory groups; the announcements were made during the chair’s report at the start of the meeting. Information and application instructions are posted on the commission’s website.