Sentencing Council "mythbuster" page launched for public education
A new "mythbuster" page has been added to the website of the Scottish Sentencing Council to counter popular misunderstandings about the sentencing process and its effects.
Covering the ground from "Offenders who don't pay their fines will just get away with it", through "People sent to prison always go free after only serving half the time", to "Scotland doesn't have whole life sentences", it sets out the true position against each quoted myth.
Other targeted misconceptions are that community payback orders are soft options; that sentences don't take account of harm to victims; and that sentences are arbitrary.
The Council welcomes suggestions for further sentencing topics to add to the page.