Legal Definitions - victim-related adjustment

VICTIM-RELATED ADJUSTMENT

Victim-related adjustment is a term used in federal sentencing guidelines to refer to an increase in punishment for a defendant who knew or should have known that the victim had a particular characteristic that made them more vulnerable to the crime. This adjustment can also apply if the victim was particularly susceptible to the criminal conduct in some other way.

For example, if a defendant targets an elderly person who is known to have memory problems and steals their money, the victim-related adjustment may apply. Another example could be if a defendant targets a person with a disability and commits a crime against them, knowing that they may have difficulty defending themselves.

These examples illustrate how the victim-related adjustment is used to increase the punishment for a defendant who takes advantage of a victim's vulnerability or susceptibility. The adjustment recognizes that crimes committed against vulnerable victims can be particularly harmful and traumatic, and therefore deserve greater punishment.