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Spotlight on sentencing

From time to time, we feature relevant guest blogs from interested organisations and individuals. These blogs do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Scottish Sentencing Council, but can add to the broader discussion and debate of issues around sentencing. If you would like to contribute a guest blog, please email us or use our contact form.

Sentencing offenders with mental health issues

12th May 2022

Many defendants have mental health issues and sentencing such individuals represents one of the most challenging areas of sentencing. A court must determine whether, and to what extent, the offender's mental health should be considered at sentencing. 

Scottish Sentencing Council visit to HMP Greenock and the Risk Management Authority

Visits - events
17th December 2021

As part of its commitment to engage with and understand the broader justice system, the Council was delighted to be able to return to visiting justice partners with a visit to HMP Greenock and the Risk Management Authority at the start of December. The Council was able to meet with Scottish Prison Service staff and prisoners while touring the prison, and was given insight into the challenges facing the SPS and the RMA by senior leaders from both organisations.

Developing smart principles for sentencing guidelines in Ireland

Guidelines
15th April 2021

This is a blog post from Dr. Ian D. Marder (Maynooth University) and Dr. Eoin Guilfoyle (University of Bristol) which was originally written for the Irish Penal Reform Trust. Amongst other things it discusses how the Scottish Sentencing Council's principles and purposes of sentencing guideline could help in the development of a similar guideline in Ireland.

What do we know about sentencing sexual offences in Scotland?

4th February 2021

The authors of two new reports published by the Scottish Sentencing Council on sentencing in sexual offence cases involving rape and sexual assault, provide a summary of the reports and discusses their findings.  The literature reviews, were carried out by Dr Rachel McPherson, Mr Nicholas Burgess, Dr Jay Gormley and Professor Cyrus Tata of the School of Law at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for Law, Crime and Justice at the University of Strathclyde.

Sentence discounting: sentencing and plea decision-making

8th January 2021

Blog post from Dr Rachel McPherson which discusses the recent Scottish Sentencing Council publication on ‘Sentence discounting: Sentencing and plea decision-making’ by Dr Jay Gormley, Dr Rachel McPherson and Professor Cyrus Tata Centre for Law, Crime & Justice, The Law School, University of Strathclyde. 

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Contact us/ media enquiries

Scottish Sentencing Council, Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RQ

Tel: 0300 790 0006 Email: sentencingcouncil@scotcourts.gov.uk
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