Sentencing Guidelines
Definitive guidelines produced by the Sentencing Council that courts must follow unless it would be contrary to the interests of justice. They set category ranges based on harm and culpability.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Section 59 of the Sentencing Act 2020 imposes a general duty on every court: in sentencing an offender, and in exercising any other function relating to the sentencing of offenders, the court must follow any sentencing guidelines which are relevant to the case or function, unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.
Sentencing guidelines typically require a court to assess the seriousness of an offence by reference to the offender's culpability and the harm caused, intended, or foreseeable, placing the offence in a category with an associated starting point and range, before adjusting for aggravating and mitigating factors.
Related terms
Official sources
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