By District Attorney Ryan Sayers
2023 Vol. 2
Last week, I mentioned that the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission has established a Sentencing Matrix for determining a standard sentencing range for crimes in Pennsylvania, and that judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys are required to follow these guidelines.
So, the next logical question is: “How do I use or read this matrix/chart?”
On the left-hand side of the Pennsylvania Sentencing Matrix is a column titled “OGS,” which stands for “Offense Gravity Score.”
Every crime in Pennsylvania, except for certain types of murder, are given a number between 1 and 14, which corresponds to the OGS number on the Sentencing Matrix.
In reviewing every crime in Pennsylvania, the Sentencing Commission has made a determination on what crimes they view as more serious than others and has assigned a number to each.
According to the Commission, less serious crimes (like retail theft, simple assault, DUI and criminal trespass) tend to have an OGS between 1 and 5, and are more likely to be given a sentence of probation or incarceration in the Clearfield County Jail.
On the other hand, more serious crimes (like robbery, rape, arson, aggravated assault and kidnapping) usually have an OGS between 9 and 14, and generally results in a state prison sentence.
(A list of all the crimes and the corresponding Offense Gravity Score can be found here: Pennsylvania OGS Chart)
With that said, the OGS is only half of the equation. The other factor that tends to weigh heavier on the sentencing guidelines is a person’s Prior Record Score, which is listed across the top of the Sentencing Matrix.
Next week, continuing on this issue of Sentencing Guidelines, I will discuss Prior Record Scores and how the score is calculated.
Ryan Sayers is the elected District Attorney of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.
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