# U.S.S.G. § 5F1.5: Occupational Restrictions

> Federal · Guidelines · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S5F1.5

## Section

- **Citation:** U.S.S.G. § 5F1.5
- **Heading:** Occupational Restrictions
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Guidelines
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** U.S. Sentencing Guidelines / Occupational Restrictions

## Text

(a) The court may impose a condition of probation or supervised release prohibiting the defendant from engaging in a specified occupation, business, or profession, or limiting the terms on which the defendant may do so, only if it determines that: (1) a reasonably direct relationship existed between the defendant’s occupation, business, or profession and the conduct relevant to the offense of conviction; and (2) imposition of such a restriction is reasonably necessary to protect the public because there is reason to believe that, absent such restriction, the defendant will continue to engage in unlawful conduct similar to that for which the defendant was convicted.

(b) If the court decides to impose a condition of probation or supervised release restricting a defendant’s engagement in a specified occupation, business, or profession, the court shall impose the condition for the minimum time and to the minimum extent necessary to protect the public. Commentary Background: The Comprehensive Crime Control Act authorizes the imposition of occupational restrictions as a condition of probation, 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(5), or supervised release, 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d). Pursuant to § 3563(b)(5), a court may require a defendant to: [R]efrain, in the case of an individual, from engaging in a specified occupation, business, or profession bearing a reasonably direct relationship to the conduct constituting the offense, or engage in such a specified occupation, business, or profession only to a stated degree or under stated circumstances. Section 3583(d) incorporates this section by reference. The Senate Judiciary Committee Report on the Comprehensive Crime Control Act explains that the provision was “intended to be used to preclude the continuation or repetition of illegal activities while avoiding a bar from employment that exceeds that needed to achieve that result.” S. Rep. No. 225, 98th Cong., 1st Sess. 96–97. The condition “should only be used as reasonably necessary to protect the public
te Judiciary Committee Report on the Comprehensive Crime Control Act explains that the provision was “intended to be used to preclude the continuation or repetition of illegal activities while avoiding a bar from employment that exceeds that needed to achieve that result.” S. Rep. No. 225, 98th Cong., 1st Sess. 96–97. The condition “should only be used as reasonably necessary to protect the public. It should not be used as a means of punishing the convicted person.” Id. at 96. Section 5F1.5 accordingly limits the use of the condition and, if imposed, limits its scope, to the minimum reasonably necessary to protect the public. The appellate review provisions permit a defendant to challenge the imposition of a probation condition under 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(5) if the sentence includes a more limiting condition of probation or supervised release than the maximum established in the guideline. See 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)(3). The government may appeal if the sentence includes a less limiting condition of probation than the minimum established in the guideline. See 18 U.S.C. § 3742(b)(3). Historical Note Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1989 (amendments 285 and 302); November 1, 1991 (amendment 428); November 1, 2002 (amendment 646).

## Nearby sections

- [U.S.S.G. § 1A1.1 Commission’s Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1A1.1.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.1 Application Instructions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.1.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.2 Applicable Guidelines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.2.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 Relevant Conduct (Factors that Determine the Guideline Range)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.3.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.4 Information to be Used in Imposing Sentence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.4.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.5 Interpretation of References to Other Offense Guidelines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.5.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.6 Structure of the Guidelines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.6.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.7 Significance of Commentary](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.7.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8 Use of Certain Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.8.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.9 Class B or C Misdemeanors and Infractions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.9.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10 Reduction in Term of Imprisonment as a Result of Amended Guideline Range](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.10.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.11 Use of Guidelines Manual in Effect on Date of Sentencing (Policy Statement)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.11.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.12 Persons Sentenced Under the Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act (Policy Statement)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.12.md)
- [U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13 Reduction in Term of Imprisonment Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) (Policy Statement)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S1B1.13.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/USSG_S5F1.5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.
