What did the 2010 amendment to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines expand?

The 2010 amendment to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines expanded eligibility for organizations seeking reduced culpability. This amendment recognized that organizations could benefit from implementing effective compliance and ethics programs. By providing criteria for reduced culpability, the amendment encouraged businesses to proactively establish and maintain compliance measures that could mitigate their legal risks. The intention was to foster a culture of compliance within organizations, acknowledging that companies that take significant steps to prevent misconduct may deserve more lenient treatment in sentencing.

This amendment supports a proactive approach to corporate responsibility, encouraging organizations to not only avoid fraud but to actively work against it through comprehensive compliance structures, which indicates a shift toward recognizing how an organization’s conduct can influence its legal standing.