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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. 

Although media reports often seek to do so, making direct comparisons between the two jurisdictions of Scotland, and England and Wales is fraught with difficulty.

The problem-solving court in Forfar provides a specialist approach to sentencing many of the women and young men charged and convicted of summary (less serious) offences. Sheriff Jillian Martin Brown presides over the court, and in this blog, talks about how the problem-solving approach operates.

Written by Dr Carly Lightowlers (University of Liverpool) and Prof Melissa Hamilton (University of Surrey).

Read a blog from Tony Bowman of the SOLD Network to learn about why some people with communication and understanding difficulties come into conflict with the law and what can be done to break a cycle of reoffending.