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A new Scottish Sentencing Council has come into force as of today with the independent body being responsible for preparing guidelines to ensure a consistent approach to sentencing throughout the country.
As well as ensuring consistency, it will also grant more insight to the public so that they can understand the reasoning behind any sentencing as well as awareness of the criminal justice system. The panel will consist of 12 members including five judicial office holders, three legal members, a police officer, a victims' representative and another non-judicial member.
Council Provides Transparency in Scotland
Lord Justice Clerk Lord Carloway, the chair of the council, said: "The council is something entirely new for Scotland.
"Sentencing is much more complex than it sometimes appears - there can be many different factors involved.
"The council will work to raise awareness and understanding of sentencing practice - not only for our justice partners but for the wider public - helping to build confidence in our justice system.
"I expect the council to take Scotland into a new era, in which we pursue a more principled approach to sentencing with improved consistency. This will be at the heart of our programme."
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The creation of the Scottish Sentencing Council is extremely important for the criminal justice system in Scotland and I welcome today’s official launch.
“We know that sentencing can be an extremely complicated and emotive issue which is why we want to provide greater clarity and openness around why and how sentences are decided.
“While the independence of Scotland’s judiciary, of course, remains a fundamental part of the Scottish legal system, as does judicial discretion in individual sentencing decisions, the council will help to ensure transparency and consistency in all sentencing decisions made in Scotland, as well as helping the public better understand the sentencing process.”
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