The Council has published two reports: an assessment of the impact and implementation of the Children and Young People definitive guideline and an assessment of the impact and implementation of the Reduction in Sentence for a Guilty Plea definitive guideline.

The Children and Young People guideline came into force on 1 June 2017 and covers overarching principles for sentencing children and young people as well as offence specific guidelines for robbery and sexual offences.  It applies to those aged under 18 years only.

The guilty plea guideline applies to cases where the first court hearing was on or after 1 June 2017.  It applies to adults only; separate guidance for defendants under 18 is provided in the Children and Young People guideline.