NCJ Number
176683
Date Published
1998
Length
188 pages
Annotation
This report examines sentencing practice in magistrates' courts and the Crown Court in more detail than that routinely provided by Criminal Statistics.
Abstract
The report combines a survey of 3,000 sentenced cases in 25 magistrates' courts with interviews with 126 magistrates and almost 2,000 sentenced cases in 18 Crown Court centers. It includes information about factors that influence the sentencing decision and about magistrates' views on the different sentencing options. The report also discusses possible sources of disparity in sentencing and examines changes in sentencing patterns over the past few years. The report concludes that: (1) closer cooperation between sentencers and the probation service would be advantageous to both; (2) restoring use of the fine would benefit reconviction rates and generate revenue; (3) courts need to be reminded to give precedence to compensation; (4) the appropriateness of tight restrictions on suspended sentences should be considered; and (5) large sentencing disparities between courts indicate the need for reassessment of the weight given to factors in sentencing decisions and for improving the mechanisms for encouraging consistency. Figures, notes, tables, appendixes, references