Tenth Report - Public opinion and understanding of sentencing
Select Committee
Justice Committee
HC 305
25 October 2023
Government response
Second Special Report - Public opinion and understanding of sentencing: Government and Sentencing Council responses to the Committee’s Tenth Report of Session 2022–23 · published 18 Jan 2024
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
1
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 21
Public lacks understanding of institutional roles and government accountability in sentencing.
Conclusion
Beyond the role of the courts in imposing a sentence, the public does not have a good understanding of the role played by different state institutions in sentencing. That is unsurprising because the role played by government, Parliament, the Sentencing …
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Government Response Summary
The government reiterates its commitment to the principle of open justice and describes the shared responsibilities among the MoJ, judiciary, and HMCTS, but does not propose specific actions to address the identified public understanding and accountability gap.
Ministry of Justice
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4
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 37
Improve public legal education on sentencing through diverse educational programmes and resources.
Recommendation
There needs to be a step-change in the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General’s Office and the Sentencing Council’s efforts on public legal education. HMCTS should develop a programme which enables secondary school pupils to be able to visit magistrates’ …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing public education initiatives such as TV broadcasting of sentencing remarks but does not commit to the specific new programmes, curriculum changes, or website creation proposed, instead deferring to the Sentencing Council's independence for some aspects.
Ministry of Justice
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10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 52
Broadcasting of sentencing remarks reinforces need for up-to-date statistical information.
Conclusion
The broadcasting of sentencing remarks represents a potential game-changer for public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales. However, it also reinforces the need for up-to-date statistical information on sentencing practice and trends so that the sentencing remarks that are …
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Government Response Summary
The government describes its existing initiative to broadcast sentencing remarks in Crown Courts and its purpose in increasing public understanding, but it does not address the committee's identified need for up-to-date statistical information to contextualise these broadcasts.
Ministry of Justice
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