Sentencing Council adds website information resource

Comprehensive and easy to read information on sentencing practice has been posted online by the Scottish Sentencing Council, in an attempt to "demystify" the sentencing process in Scotland.

The resource is aimed at not only the public, but also legal practitioners and organisations within the criminal justice system to assist in explaining sentencing to those involved in court proceedings.

Including pages on what the law says, sentencing factors, sentences, a "jargon buster" and FAQs, the material sets out clearly and simply how a judge decides a sentence, the legislation surrounding sentencing including maximum levels available in different courts, the range of factors that judges can consider when deciding a sentence, and a section detailing the many different sentences available in Scotland, when they can be used and what they mean.

The jargon buster explains legal terminology in easy to understand language.

Lord Turnbull, a High Court member of the Council, commented: “We are working to bring together information on sentencing practice in Scotland to create a helpful and user-friendly resource. The material covers the different elements involved in the sentencing process and the range of factors that can be considered when a sentence is decided. Our aim is to create a ‘go to’ resource for anyone wishing to better understand how sentences are decided in our courtrooms every day.”

The Council welcomes suggestions for further additions to its website, which can be found at www.scottishsentencingcouncil.org.uk