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Welcome to the sentencing guidelines website The Sentencing Guidelines Council's role is to encourage consistency of sentencing in all courts in England and Wales, supporting judges and magistrates in their decision-making. It is an independent body with both judicial and non-judicial members, chaired by the Lord Chief Justice. The Council works with the Sentencing Advisory Panel to develop authoritative guidance based on key principles. The Panel – an independent body made up of judges, magistrates, academics, criminal justice practitioners and people from outside the criminal justice system - consults extensively before issuing advice to the Council. On this site you can learn about the people who make up the Council and Panel and the way the two bodies work, as well as read the most up-to-date guidelines and information on sentencing in the courts of England and Wales.
What's New Response of the Sentencing Guidelines Council to Lord Chancellor’s review The outcome of the Lord Chancellor’s review of the starting point for determining the minimum term of a life sentence for murder using a knife has been announced and an order has been laid to amend schedule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The Sentencing Guidelines Council’s response to the review is available below. Sentencing Guidelines Council’s response Definitive Sentencing Guidelines on Overarching principles – Sentencing youths On 20 November 2009 the Sentencing Guidelines Council published its definitive guideline “Overarching Principles – Sentencing Youths”, which will apply to offenders sentenced on or after 30 November 2009. This wide-ranging guideline has been developed to deal with changes in legislation relating to youth justice to be implemented on 30 November 2009. It also draws together the principles relating to sentencing young offenders in a single authoritative document. Overarching principles – Sentencing youths Press Notice Definitive Sentencing Guidelines on Sentencing for Fraud – Statutory offences On 13 October 2009 the Sentencing Guidelines Council published its definitive guideline “Sentencing for fraud – Statutory offences”, which will apply to offenders who are sentenced on or after 26 October 2009. The third update of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines was also published on 13 October, and includes the new guidelines for statutory offences of fraud. In addition, supplementary guidance has been provided in relation to sentencing health and safety offences following changes to the maximum penalty for certain offences that came into effect on 16 January 2009. Sentencing for fraud – Statutory offences Press Notice Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (including Update 1 issued 15 July 2008, Update 2 issued 9 December and Update 3 issued 13 October 2009) The Sentence – 9th edition The 9th edition of ‘The Sentence’ newsletter is now available. This newsletter provides information about sentencing trends as part of the Sentencing Guidelines Council’s aim to provide reliable information in an accessible form. This includes information about the sentencing of youths, as well as adults. Additional to the newsletter, more detailed information is given on local, regional and national sentencing trends in general and by specific offence. The spreadsheet uses macros, and you may be presented with a message warning that macros can contain viruses. If so then select 'Enable macros' to continue. If you cannot enable macros then contact your system administrator. The local sentencing data on adults is too large for our website. It is available on CD-ROM; please contact the Sentencing Guidelines Secretariat on 020 7084 8130 if you require a copy.” The Sentence - Issue 9 Local Data Youths Note on change to ‘The Sentence – Issue 9’

Welcome to the sentencing guidelines website

The Sentencing Guidelines Council's role is to encourage consistency of sentencing in all courts in England and Wales, supporting judges and magistrates in their decision-making. It is an independent body with both judicial and non-judicial members, chaired by the Lord Chief Justice.

The Council works with the Sentencing Advisory Panel to develop authoritative guidance based on key principles. The Panel – an independent body made up of judges, magistrates, academics, criminal justice practitioners and people from outside the criminal justice system - consults extensively before issuing advice to the Council.

On this site you can learn about the people who make up the Council and Panel and the way the two bodies work, as well as read the most up-to-date guidelines and information on sentencing in the courts of England and Wales.

What's New

Response of the Sentencing Guidelines Council to Lord Chancellor’s review

The outcome of the Lord Chancellor’s review of the starting point for determining the minimum term of a life sentence for murder using a knife has been announced and an order has been laid to amend schedule 21 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The Sentencing Guidelines Council’s response to the review is available below.

Sentencing Guidelines Council’s response

Definitive Sentencing Guidelines on Overarching principles – Sentencing youths

On 20 November 2009 the Sentencing Guidelines Council published its definitive guideline “Overarching Principles – Sentencing Youths”, which will apply to offenders sentenced on or after 30 November 2009.

This wide-ranging guideline has been developed to deal with changes in legislation relating to youth justice to be implemented on 30 November 2009. It also draws together the principles relating to sentencing young offenders in a single authoritative document.

Overarching principles – Sentencing youths

Press Notice

Definitive Sentencing Guidelines on Sentencing for Fraud – Statutory offences

On 13 October 2009 the Sentencing Guidelines Council published its definitive guideline “Sentencing for fraud – Statutory offences”, which will apply to offenders who are sentenced on or after 26 October 2009.

The third update of the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines was also published on 13 October, and includes the new guidelines for statutory offences of fraud. In addition, supplementary guidance has been provided in relation to sentencing health and safety offences following changes to the maximum penalty for certain offences that came into effect on 16 January 2009.

Sentencing for fraud – Statutory offences

Press Notice

Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (including Update 1 issued 15 July 2008, Update 2 issued 9 December and Update 3 issued 13 October 2009)

The Sentence – 9th edition

The 9th edition of ‘The Sentence’ newsletter is now available.

This newsletter provides information about sentencing trends as part of the Sentencing Guidelines Council’s aim to provide reliable information in an accessible form. This includes information about the sentencing of youths, as well as adults. Additional to the newsletter, more detailed information is given on local, regional and national sentencing trends in general and by specific offence.

The spreadsheet uses macros, and you may be presented with a message warning that macros can contain viruses. If so then select 'Enable macros' to continue. If you cannot enable macros then contact your system administrator.

The local sentencing data on adults is too large for our website. It is available on CD-ROM; please contact the Sentencing Guidelines Secretariat on 020 7084 8130 if you require a copy.”

The Sentence - Issue 9

Local Data Youths

Note on change to ‘The Sentence – Issue 9’