Lexis®Library update: The guidance seeks to provide a clear operational process in which pre-sentence reports can be prepared prior to the magistrates' court taking a plea at first hearing. The guidance outlines the legal basis of such reports, per section 156 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It also outlines the benefits of such reports, and the scope of when a pre-sentence report applies.
Where a defendant will be pleading guilty and their case is likely to be sentenced in the magistrates' court, the defendant's solicitor can request a pre-sentence report before the first hearing from the Probation Service. This can save both the defendant and the court time.
Source: Before Plea protocol for a Pre-Sentence Report
This content was first published by LNB News / Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 4 August 2021 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/
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