The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines are a set of rules established to create consistency in sentencing for federal crimes. They provide judges with a framework to determine appropriate sentences based on the severity of the offense and the defendant's criminal history. This helps ensure that similar crimes receive similar punishments across different cases. These guidelines were created by the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 1987 and are updated periodically. While judges can deviate from the guidelines, they must provide a valid reason for doing so. The goal is to promote fairness and reduce disparities in sentencing throughout the federal justice system.