# U.S.S.G. § 2J1.5: Failure to Appear by Material Witness

> Federal · Guidelines · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S2J1.5

## Section

- **Citation:** U.S.S.G. § 2J1.5
- **Heading:** Failure to Appear by Material Witness
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Guidelines
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** U.S. Sentencing Guidelines / Failure to Appear by Material Witness

## Text

(a) Base Offense Level: (1) 6, if in respect to a felony; or (2) 4, if in respect to a misdemeanor.

(b) Specific Offense Characteristic (1) If the offense resulted in substantial interference with the administration of justice, increase by 3 levels. Commentary Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(B). For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index). Application Notes: 1. “Substantial interference with the administration of justice” includes a premature or improper termination of a felony investigation; an indictment, verdict, or any judicial determination based upon perjury, false testimony, or other false evidence; or the unnecessary expenditure of substantial governmental or court resources. 2. By statute, a term of imprisonment imposed for an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(B) runs consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(2). Background: This section applies to a failure to appear by a material witness. The base offense level incorporates a distinction as to whether the failure to appear was in respect to a felony or misdemeanor prosecution. The offense under 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b)(1)(B) is a misdemeanor for which the maximum period of imprisonment authorized by statute is one year. Historical Note Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1989 (amendment 177); November 1, 1991 (amendment 401); November 1, 2009 (amendment 737).

## Nearby sections

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S2J1.5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.