You be the Judge
You be the Judge belongs to the Ministry of Justice and is no longer available. The Sentencing Council is considering the possibility of developing a revised version.
You be the Judge is an interactive, online, sentencing tool that puts you in the judge’s seat. You will get to choose from eight real-life court cases, you will hear the facts of the case and the aggravating and mitigating factors, then you will decide the sentence. Finally, you get to see how your sentence compares with the one handed out by the judge in the real case.
Guidelines used in You be the Judge cases
Burglary
Alexander Jackson, 26, has been found guilty of breaking into and stealing from a family’s house.
Guideline: Domestic burglary
Criminal damage
Robert Horton, 23, has been found guilty of scratching three cars and spraying graffiti on a garage door.
Guideline: Criminal Damage (other than by fire)
Possession of drugs with intent to supply
Rebecca Edwards, 28, has been found guilty of having more than 300 ecstasy pills, which she was going to sell.
Guideline: Possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply it to another
Manslaughter
David Chichester, 56, has been found guilty of punching a motorist, causing his death.
Guideline: Unlawful act manslaughter
Murder
Connor Davies, 30, has been found guilty of beating an old man to death. There is no guideline but the framework for sentencing murder is in the:
Criminal Justice Act 2003
Robbery (adult offender)
Andrew Roberts, 35, has been found guilty of robbing a young woman of her handbag at knife point.
Guideline: Robbery – Street and less sophisticated commercial robbery
Robbery (young offender)
Robert J., 15, has been found guilty of robbing a mobile phone and money from a smaller boy.
Guideline: Robbery – Sentencing children and young people
Threatening behaviour
Chris Williams, 19, has been found guilty of threatening an old lady who lives in his neighbourhood.
Guideline: Threatening behaviour – fear or provocation of violence