Sentencing guidelines are a set of rules that help judges decide the appropriate punishment for someone convicted of a crime. These guidelines take into account factors like the severity of the crime and the offender's criminal history. By providing a framework, they aim to ensure that sentences are fair and consistent across similar cases. These guidelines can vary by state or federal law, and they often include a range of possible sentences for different offenses. For example, a robbery conviction might have a guideline suggesting a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison, helping to standardize how justice is served.