Sentencing Guidelines

Abstract

This volume is the first devoted to exploring the definitive sentencing guidelines in England and Wales. Although there is a vast literature on sentencing guidelines across the United States, the English guidelines have attracted almost no attention from scholars. The book will be of interest to many countries since the English guidelines represent the only alternative to the US schemes. A number of other jurisdictions have expressed a desire to introduce more structure to sentencing and the English scheme offers a real alternative. Contributing authors explore a range of issues relating to the guidelines. The contributors include practicing lawyers, legal and socio-legal academics, as well as scholars from several other countries including New Zealand and the United States. The volume begins with a clear and concise history of the guidelines as well as a description of how they function. The chapters explore a range of issues including the effect of guidelines on judicial practice, the role of public opinion in developing sentencing guidelines, the role of the crime victim in sentencing guidelines and the use of guidelines by practicing barristers. In addition, the international dimension offers a comparative perspective: the English guidelines are explored by leading academics from the United States and New Zealand. The volume is therefore multidisciplinary and cross-jurisdictional in approach. It will interest academics from law, sociology and criminology, legal practitioners and indeed anyone else with an interest in sentencing.