---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 850"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "850"
heading: "Information for sentencing"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/850"
units:
  - "Chapter 13 — Drug Abuse Prevention and Control"
  - "Subchapter I — Control and Enforcement"
  - "Part D — Offenses and Penalties"
---

# §850. Information for sentencing


Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter or section 242a(a)[^1] of title 42, no limitation shall be placed on the information concerning the background, character, and conduct of a person convicted of an offense which a court of the United States may receive and consider for the purpose of imposing an appropriate sentence under this subchapter or subchapter II.


## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 410, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1269.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 242a of title 42, referred to in text, was repealed by Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXII, § 3201(b)(1), Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1190.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on first day of seventh calendar month that begins after Oct. 26, 1970, see section 704 of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.