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28 May 2020 / Monica Stevenson
Issue: 7888 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Criminal
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Happy anniversary?

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Monica Stevenson assesses the role of the Sentencing Council, a decade down the line
  • The Sentencing Council’s portfolio: proposed and existing guidelines.
  • Sentencing guidelines: transparency and consistency.
  • The Law Commission’s proposal for a Sentencing Code.

It remains to be seen what the economic fallout from COVID-19 spells for the state of the criminal justice system. Those working in criminal law could not have anticipated the way in which already limited funding might come to be further depleted.

The different elements which work to deliver criminal justice require political attention and money. The crucial assignment of sentencing criminal offenders is no exception. This month marks the ten-year anniversary of the Sentencing Council. A statutory body set up to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing decisions, it also has a statutory duty to carry out analysis and research into sentencing.

To mark the first decade of its work, the Council has announced plans to hold a public consultation on ideas for future projects and work. Any such mandate will of course

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Walkers—Muriel Marseille

Ashurst's Chief Risk Officer joins Walkers

Excello Law—John Osborne

Excello Law—John Osborne

Northern family lawyer John Osborne joins Excello

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

mfg Solicitors—Rebecca Rogers, Kennedy Langley & Victoria Griffiths

Trio of promotions announced at Kidderminster law firm mfg Solicitors

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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) continues to show that failing to disclose regulatory issues can attract harsher consequences than the original misconduct itself
Rejecting a generous settlement can prove an expensive mistake, as two recent high-profile cases demonstrate
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