What Is the Difference Between a PSI and a PSR?
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Short answer
In most federal cases the presentence investigation, or PSI, is the process: a United States probation officer interviews people, reviews records and gathers information about the offense and the person's history. The presentence report, or PSR, is the written report produced from that process. The judge uses the PSR when making sentencing decisions, and the Bureau of Prisons and supervision officers may rely on it after sentencing, so accuracy matters beyond the hearing itself.
Attorney review pending. This is general education, not legal advice.
Plain-English overview
A presentence investigation, often called a PSI, is the information-gathering process conducted before sentencing in most federal criminal cases. A United States probation officer interviews people, reviews records, investigates the offense and gathers information about the defendant’s history and circumstances.
The presentence report, commonly called the PSR, is the written report produced from that investigation. It may address the offense, criminal history, personal and family history, education, employment, health, finances, restitution and the federal sentencing-guideline calculation.
Why this matters
The judge uses the PSR when making sentencing decisions. Information from the report may also be used after sentencing by the Bureau of Prisons and by probation officers responsible for supervision. A factual error or missing piece of information can therefore matter beyond the sentencing hearing.
Preparation checklist
- Speak with defense counsel before the presentence interview.
- Ask whether counsel will attend the interview.
- Gather records counsel believes are appropriate.
- Create a written personal-history timeline.
- Identify dates or details you are uncertain about.
- Do not guess when you do not know an answer.
- Review the completed report carefully with counsel.
- Do not upload a complete PSR or confidential records to the public CaseSteps prototype.
Questions to discuss with counsel
- What subjects will probation ask about?
- What records should I collect?
- Should you attend the presentence interview?
- Are there subjects I should prepare to explain?
- When will we receive the draft PSR?
- How will we identify and address possible errors?
Organize this with the PSI/PSR Organizer
Track records, review the report section by section, and build questions for counsel. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
Open the PSI/PSR OrganizerThis is general federal legal education, not legal advice. Procedures and outcomes depend on the facts, the controlling law, court orders and local practices. Confirm deadlines and decisions with qualified counsel.
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