The Sentencing Council for England and Wales promotes greater consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The Council produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals and aims to increase public understanding of sentencing.
Do not retain this copy. Only the online version of a guideline is guaranteed to be up to date.
How offenders are sentenced in England and Wales
For an overview of how offenders are sentenced, take a look at this short video which gives the basics on what kinds of sentence there are and how judges and magistrates decide what sentence to give.
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Latest from the Sentencing Council
Sentencing offenders with mental health conditions or disorders – consultation launched on providing additional information in sentencing guidelines
9 April 2019The Sentencing Council has launched a consultation on its proposed guideline on sentencing offenders with mental health conditions or disorders. Read More
New non-judicial member appointed to the Council
4 April 2019Diana Fawcett has been appointed as a non-judicial member of the Sentencing Council with specific responsibility for promoting the welfare Read More
Impact assessment for Health and Safety Offences, Corporate Manslaughter and Food Safety and Hygiene Offences guideline published
4 April 2019Fines for large organisations sentenced for health and safety offences have increased as had been anticipated following the introduction of Read More