Publications

Authors: Dr Johanne Miller and Dr Sarah AndersonUniversity of the West of Scotland As part of developing the draft guideline the Council wanted to explore the views and opinions of young people across Scotland. In May 2019, the University of the West of Scotland was commissioned by the Council to explore the opinions of young people, including young people with convictions, on sentencing and the draft guideline. This research was carried out during the period July 2019 to January 2020.

Public perceptions of sentencing in Scotland - Qualitative research exploring sexual offencesAuthors: Hannah Biggs, Susan Reid, Kaushi Attygalle, Konstantina Vosnaki (ScotCen), Dr Rachel McPherson (University of Glasgow) and Professor Cyrus Tata (Strathclyde Centre for Law, Crime & Justice, Law, School, University of Strathclyde) Through a series of focus groups and interviews, the research examined awareness and understanding of sexual offences among the public, views on the factors which should be taken into account when sentencing, and perceptions of current practice, including a sentencing exercise using a real world case. The Council commissioned the research to help guide its work to promote understanding and awareness of sentencing and to inform its development of guidelines on sexual offences.

Members of the public, including relatives of victims of such offences, took part in the research, which was carried out by ScotCen Social Research on behalf of the Council. It examines public understanding of and attitudes to sentencing for death by driving offences as well as experiences and views of the justice system. Discussions explored awareness of the situations involved in these offences, knowledge and views of the factors influencing sentencing and perceptions of the purpose of sentencing.

A literature review by Dr Rachel McPherson, Mr Nicholas Burgess, Dr Jay Gormley and Professor Cyrus Tata School of Law, University of Glasgow and Centre for Law, Crime and Justice, School of Law, Strathclyde University, reviewing the information available on the sentencing of rape offences in Scotland, as well as looking at other jurisdictions.

A literature review by Dr Rachel McPherson, Mr Nicholas Burgess, Dr Jay Gormley and Professor Cyrus Tata School of Law, University of Glasgow and Centre for Law, Crime and Justice, School of Law, Strathclyde University, reviewing the information available on the sentencing of offences involving sexual assault in Scotland, as well as looking at other jurisdictions.