Following a brief history of Federal sentencing reform and an overview of the Commission's commissioners, organization, staffing and budget and expenditures, a chapter describes Commission activities regarding the sentencing guidelines. This chapter includes guideline amendments and descriptions of the work of policy teams and Commission assistance to Congress. The Commission has closely monitored the sentencing decisions of the Federal courts to identify areas in which guideline amendments, research, or legislative action may be needed. One chapter addresses some of the more significant sentencing-related issues decided by the U.S. Supreme Court and the courts of appeals during fiscal year 1999. A chapter on guideline training and education encompasses the Internet web site, public information, publications and training materials, as well as the training programs provided. The concluding chapter on Commission research addresses statutory requirements and data-collection issues. A summary of 1999 findings addresses the sentencing of individual offenders, organizational sentencing practices, and appeals data. Staff papers and presentations as well as data analyses for the courts are also provided. 67 footnotes