AO 245SOR

Judgment in a Criminal Case (Statement of Reasons)

Agency
U.S. Courts
Revision
Rev. 11/25
Fillable fields
125
Pages
4
Official source
U.S. Courts form page
Checked
October 20, 2026
Fill AO 245SOR online
Page 1 of form AO 245SOR

AO 245SOR: Judgment in a Criminal Case (Statement of Reasons)

AO 245SOR, Judgment in a Criminal Case (Statement of Reasons), is the four-page attachment to the Judgment in a Criminal Case in which the court records the reasons for a sentence. The form itself prints the number as AO 245 SOR. The U.S. Courts lists it under Criminal Judgment Forms. The page says it is effective on September 1, 2015 and updated on November 3, 2025, and the edition printed on the form is Rev. 11/25.

The attachment records findings on the presentence investigation report and on any mandatory minimum sentence, the plea agreement, the guideline range, the sentencing determination, reasons for a sentence outside the guideline range, restitution and any additional basis for the sentence. Page 1 says Sections I, II, III, IV, V and VII must be completed in all felony and Class A misdemeanor cases, and is marked Not for Public Disclosure.

It is a court document the judge signs. This page explains the form in plain words and is not legal advice. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.

Top of page 1 of AO 245SOR: Judgment in a Criminal Case (Statement of Reasons), as printed by COURTS

What's on AO 245SOR

Section I: Presentence report

The court adopts the presentence investigation report without change or with changes to Chapter Two, Three or Four determinations of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual, or finds no need for a report under Fed.R.Crim.P. 32, and names the applicable guideline.

Sections II and III: Minimum and plea

Findings on a mandatory minimum term, including a sentence below it based on findings of fact, substantial assistance (18 U.S.C. § 3553(e)) or the statutory safety valve (18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)), then one plea agreement box: non-binding, binding or none.

Section IV: Guideline range

Before application of §5K1.1 or variances: total offense level, criminal history category, guideline range in months, supervised release range in years, fine range, and a box for a fine waived or below the range because of inability to pay.

Sections V and VI: Sentence and reasons

Whether the sentence is within, below or above the guideline range, with the government's position, then the reasons for a sentence outside the range, such as substantial assistance (§5K1.1), factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and other listed reasons.

Section VII: Restitution

Restitution not applicable, the total amount of restitution, one of six reasons restitution is not ordered, or partial restitution with reasons (18 U.S.C. § 3553(c)).

Section VIII and signature

Any additional basis for the sentence, then the defendant's personal identifiers and the date of imposition of judgment with the judge's signature, name and title, and date signed.

How AO 245SOR is filled out

  1. 1

    Fill in the caption

    Every page repeats the defendant's name, the case number and the district at the top.

  2. 2

    Complete the listed sections

    Page 1 says Sections I, II, III, IV, V and VII must be completed in all felony and Class A misdemeanor cases.

  3. 3

    Reference the presentence report

    Section I.B asks the court to check all that apply and specify its determinations, findings or comments, referencing paragraph numbers in the presentence report, using Section VIII if necessary.

  4. 4

    Explain the sentence

    Section V.A asks for the reasons when the guideline range spans more than 24 months, as required by 18 U.S.C. §3553(c). A sentence below or above the range also completes Section VI.

  5. 5

    Record restitution

    Section VII says to check only one reason when restitution is not ordered, and has a line to explain other reasons.

  6. 6

    Add identifiers and sign

    Page 4 takes the defendant's identifiers and addresses, the date of imposition of judgment, and the judge's signature, name and title, and date signed.

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Privacy, fees and related forms

Privacy

Page 1 is marked Not for Public Disclosure. Page 4 holds the defendant's Social Security number, date of birth, and residence and mailing addresses.

Part of the judgment

Each page is headed Judgment in a Criminal Case Attachment, with the page number and Statement of Reasons.

Fees

The form does not print a fee. It is a court document the judge signs.

Dates on the page

The U.S. Courts page lists AO 245SOR under Criminal Judgment Forms, effective on September 1, 2015 and updated on November 3, 2025, as a PDF.

Related forms

Who completes AO 245SOR?

  • The sentencing judge

    Page 4 ends with the date of imposition of judgment, the signature of the judge, the judge's name and title, and the date signed.

  • The defendant

    Each page names the defendant with the case number and district. Page 4 holds the defendant's Social Security number, date of birth, residence address and mailing address. The form has no signature line for the defendant.

  • The government

    Section V records the government's position when the sentence is below or above the guideline range, such as whether it sought, did not oppose or opposed that sentence.

  • The Federal Bureau of Prisons

    Section I.B.4 has room for comments or findings on information in the presentence report that the Federal Bureau of Prisons may rely on when it makes inmate classification, designation or programming decisions.

  • Victims

    Section VII records the total amount of restitution, or the reason restitution is not ordered, such as losses that were not ascertainable or victims who elected not to participate.

The court completes the Statement of Reasons. These are the people and offices it names.

Official sources and the blank

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Questions about Form AO 245SOR

Who fills out AO 245SOR?

The court. The judge signs page 4 under the date of imposition of judgment and enters the date signed. The form has no signature line for the defendant.

Is AO 245SOR a public document?

Page 1 is marked Not for Public Disclosure. Page 4 holds the defendant's Social Security number, date of birth and addresses.

Which sections are completed in every felony case?

Page 1 says Sections I, II, III, IV, V and VII must be completed in all felony and Class A misdemeanor cases. Sections VI and VIII are used when they apply.

What does Section IV record?

The guideline range before application of §5K1.1 or variances: total offense level, criminal history category, guideline range in months, supervised release range in years and fine range.

When is Section VI completed?

Section V says to also complete Section VI when the sentence is below or above the guideline range. Section VI lists the reasons, such as substantial assistance and factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).

Why does the form print AO 245 SOR?

The PDF header prints the number as AO 245 SOR, and the U.S. Courts page lists it as AO 245SOR. Both name the same Statement of Reasons form.