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Sentencing Local CrimeSentencing Local Crime

Highbury Corner Highbury Corner Magistrates’ CourtMagistrates’ Court

Camden and Islington

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Law & Order - Who’s who?Law & Order - Who’s who?

Parliament create and change laws

Police enforce laws and arrest

CPS charge and criminal prosecutions

Magistrates decide guilt and impose sentence

Prison/Probation apply the sentence

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What’s the purpose of sentencing?What’s the purpose of sentencing?

• Punishment

• Reduction in crime / deterrence

• Reform and rehabilitation

• Protection of the public

• Reparation

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Types of sentenceTypes of sentence

Community order

Conditional discharge Fine

Prison/curfew order

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Sentencing - Seriousness

Discharge

conditional

Fine

£5,000

Community Order

unpaid work

supervision

drug rehabilitation etc

programme

exclusion

curfew

Prison

Crown Court

Immediate

Suspended

C o m p e n s a t i o n

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How is a sentencing decision made?How is a sentencing decision made?

2. Assess Seriousness of offence2. Assess Seriousness of offence

3. Consider the offender3. Consider the offender

1. Guidelines1. Guidelines

4. Decide your sentence4. Decide your sentence

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1. Guidelines1. Guidelines

Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines

Starting PointsStarting PointsRangesRanges

Court of Appeal DecisionsCourt of Appeal Decisions

Similar casesSimilar cases

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2. Assessing Seriousness2. Assessing Seriousness

A. CulpabilityIntention?Recklessness?

E.g. AssaultHigher LowerWeapon ProvocationPlanning Single push, blowHead-butting, kickingHostility to victimGroup attack

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B. Harm (or Risk of Harm)To individuals?

To the community?

E.g. AssaultAggravating

Injury

Vulnerable victim / public service

Child present

Previous violence

Alcohol

2. Assessing Seriousness 2. Assessing Seriousness contcont

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3. The offender3. The offender

• Previous record• Lack of remorse• Lack of response to

previous court orders

• Age• Genuine Remorse • Co-operation with Police

More Serious

Less Serious

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Reduced sentence for a guilty pleaReduced sentence for a guilty plea

1/31/3 first opportunityfirst opportunity1/4 1/4 trial date settrial date set1/10 1/10 day of trialday of trial

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You be the magistrateYou be the magistrate

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SentencingSentencing

2. Seriousness - actual offence2. Seriousness - actual offence

3. Consider the offender3. Consider the offender

1. Guideline - type of offence1. Guideline - type of offence

4. Decide your sentence4. Decide your sentence

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1. Type of offence1. Type of offence

Theft: ShopliftingTheft: Shoplifting£50 supermarket groceries£50 supermarket groceries

Guidelines?Guidelines?

Discharge Fine PrisonCommunity

Order

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OffenderOffender

Do you treat them all Do you treat them all the same?the same?

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2. Seriousness of actual offence2. Seriousness of actual offence

TeenagerTeenager ran off & hid itemsran off & hid items

Single mumSingle mum child’s buggy to concealchild’s buggy to conceal

45’ish female45’ish female paid for some shopping paid for some shopping

70 year old man70 year old man aggressive to staffaggressive to staff

Discharge Fine PrisonCommunity

Order

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3. Offender information3. Offender information – Probation Report – Probation Report

TeenagerTeenager student & charity workstudent & charity work

Single mumSingle mum suffering alcohol addictionsuffering alcohol addiction

45’ish female45’ish female on suspended prison on suspended prison sentence for credit fraudsentence for credit fraud

70 year old man70 year old man suffering from Alzheimer’ssuffering from Alzheimer’s

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4. Possible sentence?4. Possible sentence?

TeenagerTeenager Fine?Fine?

Single mumSingle mum CO-Alcohol Programme?CO-Alcohol Programme?

45’ish female45’ish female Prison – Prison – activate activate suspendedsuspended

70 year old man70 year old man Absolute discharge?Absolute discharge?

MAGISTRATES IN THE COMMUNITY

– INCREASE OUR AWARENESS OF LOCAL CONCERNS

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– INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN CJS

– ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS TO BECOME MAGISTRATES.

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Contact usContact us

highburymic@gmail.comhighburymic@gmail.com

www.magistrates.gov.ukwww.magistrates.gov.uk