New inquiry launched to understand public perceptions of sentencing

The inquiry will aim to get a better understanding of public awareness around how sentencing works, including how easy information is to access. It will explore public perceptions on sentencing and ask how far public opinion should influence the sentencing regime. 

As part of the inquiry, the Committee plans to undertake wider engagement so that members of the public, as well as those with existing knowledge of the justice system, can contribute to the evidence-gathering. Details of this will be announced in due course. 

Chair's comment

Launching the inquiry, Chair of the Justice Committee Sir Bob Neill said: 

“For people to have confidence in the criminal justice system it is vital that its decisions are transparent and well communicated. We have launched this inquiry to examine public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales. We want to know how the public accesses information on sentencing and what the public thinks about the current system. The Committee will also examine what can be done in order to improve public understanding of sentencing."

Terms of reference 

The Committee invites evidence on the following questions:  

• What does the public know about the current approach to sentencing in England and Wales?   
• How does the public access information on sentencing?   
• What are the barriers to improving public awareness of how sentencing works?  
• To what extent does public understanding of sentencing affect public confidence in the criminal justice system?   
• What could be done to improve public understanding of sentencing?  
• What is public opinion on sentencing, and how can it be ascertained or measured?  
• To what extent should public opinion inform sentencing policy and practice?  

Please send submissions of no more than 3,000 words through the online portal by 5.00pm on Thursday 21 July 2022. Find out how to give evidence here.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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