Public opinion and understanding of sentencing

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Jun 2022 Closed: 30 May 2024 Parliament page
In this inquiry, the Justice Committee will examine the public’s understanding of the current approach to sentencing in England and Wales. It will investigate how the public access information on sentencing and barriers to improving public awareness on how sentencing works. The inquiry will also consider public opinion on sentencing, … Read more
12 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 5 events
18 Jan
2024
Report published
25 Oct
2023
Report published
31 Jan
2023
Correspondence
13 Dec
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
29 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Tenth Report - Public opinion and understanding of sentencing HC 305 25 Oct 2023 31 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Accepted
Tenth Report - Public opinion and …
Public unawareness of sentencing trends undermines informed debate and policy decisions.
It is concerning that much of the public is not aware of recent trends in sentence lengths.It means that the public is not able to consider individual sentences within a wider context. Low levels of understanding of sentencing has an … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights its existing quarterly Criminal Justice System Statistics publications and user guides, noting their focus on user needs. They state they will continue to consider options for broader visual presentations of data to aid understanding, indicating ongoing efforts rather than new commitments.
Ministry of Justice
View details
5 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Public opinion and …
Review MoJ sentencing statistical releases for public accessibility, analysis, and relevance.
It is vital that the public has access to current data on sentencing practice so individual cases can be understood in their broader context. The MoJ should review its statistical releases on sentencing to ensure that they are presented in … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines how its Criminal Justice System Statistics publication has significantly developed to offer accessible data tools and commentary, and states it will continue to consider broader visual presentations, rather than committing to a specific review or revival of the digest.
Ministry of Justice
View details
7 Conclusion Accepted
Tenth Report - Public opinion and …
Significant gap in accessible public information on specific sentencing trends.
There is currently a significant gap in the public information on sentencing. The criminal justice system quarterly statistics provide information on sentencing, but there remains a need for more easily accessible data on sentencing trends, especially on sentencing for specific … Read more
Government Response
The government states that its Criminal Justice System Statistics publication has significantly developed to meet user needs, offering detailed data tools and user guides, and commits to continuing to consider options for broader visual presentations.
Ministry of Justice
View details
8 Conclusion Accepted
Tenth Report - Public opinion and …
Explore using the Common Platform to produce accessible sentencing data for the public.
The Crown Court Sentencing Survey provided a rich dataset on how sentences are determined. It should be possible to use the Common Platform, the new case information system used in the criminal justice system, to produce a valuable dataset on … Read more
Government Response
The government highlighted its existing initiative to allow television cameras to broadcast judges' sentencing remarks in Crown Courts and the Court of Appeal to improve public understanding, but did not address the recommendation to explore using the Common Platform for producing accessible sentencing data.
Ministry of Justice
View details
17 Conclusion Accepted
Tenth Report - Public opinion and …
Public polling suggests support for increased severity of custodial sentences for specific offences.
Our polling on the public’s view on the appropriate starting points for specific offences suggests that a majority would support increases in the severity of the relevant custodial sentences. This position is also supported by much of the research into … Read more
Government Response
The government details its existing quarterly Criminal Justice System Statistics publications and user feedback processes, stating it will continue to consider options for broader data presentations. It focuses on current data dissemination rather than committing to an in-depth analysis of public views on sentencing policy.
Ministry of Justice
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 12 classified
Accepted 5
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 13
Not Addressed 3
Total 12 recs + 19 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
31 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Edward Argar MP, Minister of State for Justice, dated 24 January 2023, on follow up from 13 December evidence session
Parliament page