All persons convicted (trial or plea) will be sentenced before a judge after a presentence report is prepared by the United States Probation Office.  That report, a copy of which you have the right to review, will use the sentencing guidelines, a bound manual, in preparing the report.  The guidelines are a point system in which points are assigned for various factors in the offense conduct, prior criminal history and other relevant factors as set out in the guidelines. These points are accumulated and charted on a sentencing table that identifies an advisory guideline range for the court to consider as part of the sentencing determination.  It is a complex calculus which counsel will review with you.