The Sentencing Council has defended its newly introduced guidelines concerning the sentencing of offenders from ethnic minorities in response to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's request to reconsider them. The Council emphasized that both major political parties were aware of these plans since 2022. Lord Justice William Davis stated that the officials were fully informed about the changes, which were designed to inform judges better about offenders’ backgrounds. The guidelines aim to ensure that pre-sentence reports are more frequently ordered for certain demographics, helping to aid rehabilitation while the minister's authority to influence these decisions is questioned.
The Sentencing Council responded to calls by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to scrap new sentencing guidelines, affirming that these decisions had involved ministerial input since 2022.
According to Lord Justice William Davis, the Council chairman, Mahmood's officials were aware of the sentencing guidelines, which had been developing for three years, therefore challenging her objection.
The new guidance encourages judges to order pre-sentence reports, providing comprehensive insights into an offender's background, aiding in rehabilitative decisions before sentencing.
Lord Justice William Davis highlight an unsettling prospect: the possibility of the Sentencing Council seeking court clarification over the Justice Secretary's influence on judicial sentencing.
Collection
[
|
...
]