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Writing in the Council’s 2021-22 annual report, which was published and laid before the Scottish Parliament on 12 October 2022, Lady Dorrian recognised the significance of the two guidelines developed by the Council which cover the process of sentencing, and sentencing young people.

The Scottish Sentencing Council, having completed a suite of general guidelines which apply to all offences in Scotland, is now moving to a new phase of work. In its 2021-24 Business Plan, published today, the Council announced that its focus will now turn to offence guidelines and confirmed its intention to prepare a sentencing guideline on domestic abuse offences.

Significant progress was made by the Scottish Sentencing Council in the development of sentencing guidelines in 2020-21 despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to its Chair, Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk.

Drawing on research and engagement carried out with sentencers and others, the Scottish Sentencing Council has published a paper highlighting obstacles to the use of community sentences and suggesting a range of actions which might improve judicial confidence in their use.

The Scottish Sentencing Council is today publishing two reports on sentence discounting and environmental and wildlife crime, as part of its work on developing sentencing guidelines in both these areas.