Sentencing

Article: Barristers urge peers to strengthen support for bereaved families in Coroners and Justice Bill

BEREAVED families should have access to legal representation at inquests, the Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association have told the House of Lords. This change is one of a number of amendments being sought by barristers to the Coroners and...

Article: Burglary Guide On Sentencing

The Sentencing Council has published a public consultation on its proposals to introduce a new guideline for the sentencing of burglary offences. The consultation runs from May 12 for twelve weeks and will close on 4 August 2011. 

Article: Constitution Committee outlines concern

House of LordsThe House of Lords constitution committee has highlighted “significant” concerns with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Article: Early guilty pleas could halve sentences

CBA Chairman raises concerns The Criminal Bar Association (“CBA”) has given a lukewarm response to Government proposals to offer defendants who plead guilty at the earliest stage a 50 per cent reduction in their sentence.

Article: Lord Chancellor gives evidence to Justice Select Committee

“I am more inclined to judicial discretion than some of my predecessors”, the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, Ken Clarke QC, declared to the Justice Select Committee on 21 July 2010.

Article: New assault guideline

sentencing guidelinesThe Sentencing Council has published a new guideline for assault offences.It applies to both magistrates’ and Crown courts, and covers the most frequently sentenced of these offences — inflicting grievous bodily harm, actual bod...

Article: News Bites - June 2011

QASAAn accreditation scheme designed to maintain high standards in criminal advocacy has changed its acronym. The Quality Assurance for Advocates scheme is to be known as the QASA (Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates).

Article: Pre-election promises

Barristers gleaned a hint of what the future may hold, with the emergence of a rash of political manifestos launched in April. The three main parties outlined their promises for legal reform ahead of the general election, as politicians jockeyed for...

Article: Sara Payne’s recommendations

The Ministry of Justice has published the report of Victim’s Champion Sara Payne into criminal justice. The recommendations includecalls for judges to explain the exact period a convicted offender is likely to spend in custody. A spokesperson for the...

Article: Senior judge criticises increase in use of penalty notices

Lord Justice Leveson, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has expressed concerns about the high numbers of penalty notices and other out of court disposals of justice.

Article: Sentencing Council

The new Sentencing Council, which came into being in April 2010, was set up as a result of concern about the size of the prison population, Lord Justice Leveson has said in a speech to the Criminal Bar Association annual conference in May. Leveson LJ,...

Article: Sentencing Council consultation

The Sentencing Council has launched a public consultation, proposing changes to the guidelines for assault offences.

Article: Westminster Watch

Charles Hale reports on a busy month, as the Justice Committee tackles the Crown Prosecution Service, sentencing and the Coroners Bill