Sentencing - new guidelines

The Sentencing Council has issued new Guidelines for cases where there is a guilty plea.  One guideline applies regardless of the date of the offence to all individual offenders aged 18 and older and to organisations in cases where the first hearing is on or after 1 June 2017. The guideline applies equally in magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court.

Reduction in sentence for a guilty plea: Definitive guideline

New guidelines are also in force for sentencing of children and young people where sentencing takes place on or after 1st June 2017, regardless of the date of the offence.

Sentencing children and young people