Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines provide a framework for determining the appropriate sentencing for organizations that have committed offenses. Within these guidelines, several factors can contribute to an increase in punishment.

Obstruction of justice is a serious offense that undermines the legal process, and if an organization is found to have engaged in such conduct, it demonstrates a blatant disregard for the law, which can warrant harsher penalties.

Violating a direct court order similarly signifies non-compliance with judicial authority and the legal system, making it a substantial aggravating factor. Courts expect organizations to adhere strictly to their orders, and failing to do so can lead to increased penalties to underscore the seriousness of compliance with legal directives.

A prior history of violations is another critical factor that influences sentencing. Organizations with a track record of non-compliance may be viewed as having a systemic issue with adherence to laws and regulations. This prior history signals a pattern of behavior rather than isolated incidents, which can justify escalating penalties to deter future violations.

Because each of these factors—obstruction of justice, violation of direct court orders, and a history of violations—independently contributes to the severity of sentencing under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, it is accurate to state that all of these factors could lead to increased