Utah’s Sentencing Commission publishes guidelines to balance accountability and rehabilitation. The aim is to reduce unpredictability while allowing judges to tailor sentences to the facts of each case.

Two defendants with similar offenses and records should receive similar penalties unless unique facts justify a different result.

Sentences start with two core components that drive the presumptive range from probation to prison.

Courts may move up or down from the presumptive range when facts justify it.

Defendants can present mitigating evidence before sentencing, including treatment records, community service logs, and support letters.

Judges often combine tools, such as a suspended prison term plus probation and treatment.

Most Utah criminal cases resolve through plea bargaining. The parties may propose a sentence or range, but the judge must independently review it against the guidelines and Utah law. The final sentence must be lawful and reflect justice for both the victim and the community.

Before sentencing, victims may submit impact statements describing emotional, physical, and financial harm. Courts also address restitution, which is court-ordered repayment for financial losses caused by the crime.

Defendants can appeal a sentence they believe is improper or excessive. Post-sentencing motions may also seek modification based on new information, rehabilitation, or calculation errors. These steps must follow strict timelines in the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.