In this inquiry, the Justice Committee will examine the public’s understanding of the current approach to sentencing in England and Wales. It will investigate how the public access information on sentencing and barriers to improving public awareness on how sentencing works. The inquiry will also consider public opinion on sentencing, including the extent to which public opinion should inform sentencing policy and practice.
Second Special Report - Public opinion and understanding of sentencing: Government and Sentencing Council responses to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2022–23
Second Special Report - Public opinion and understanding of sentencing: Government and Sentencing Council responses to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2022–23
Inquiry
Public opinion and understanding of sentencing
Work
Proposed changes to the Totality sentencing guideline (Non-inquiry session), and Public opinion and understanding of sentencing (Inquiry)
Witnesses Dr Rory Kelly (Lecturer in Criminal Evidence and Criminal Law at Faculty of Laws, UCL), Professor Mandeep Dhami (Professor in Decision Psychology at Middlesex University), and Professor Andrew Ashworth CBE KC (Hon) (Emeritus Vinerian Professor of English Law at Faculty of Law, University of Oxford)
Inquiry
Public opinion and understanding of sentencing
Witnesses Steve Wade (Chief Executive at Sentencing Council for England and Wales), Lord Justice William Davis (Chairman at Sentencing Council for England and Wales), Claire Fielder (Director of Youth Justice and Offender Policy at Ministry of Justice), and Rt Hon Edward Argar MP (Minister of State for Justice at Ministry of Justice)
Inquiry
Public opinion and understanding of sentencing
Witnesses Mark Day (Joint Secretary at Independent Commission into the Experience of Victims and Long-term Prisoners), Bishop James Jones KBE (Chair at Independent Commission into the Experience of Victims and Long-term Prisoners), Professor Mike Hough (Emeritus Professor at School of Law, Birkbeck, University of London), Professor Julian Roberts (Executive Director at Sentencing Academy), and Claire Waxman OBE (Victims' Commissioner for London)