Scottish Sentencing Council announces ambitious three year plan

The Scottish Sentencing Council has today published its 2024-27 Business Plan, outlining significant new guidelines and research initiatives aimed at enhancing Scotland's sentencing framework.

In a major development, the Council will begin work on new sentencing guidelines for people with mental health and related issues, recognising the complex challenges faced by courts in such cases. The Plan also announces the development of guidelines on assault offences, reflecting the Council's continued focus on crimes of violence.

The Council will advance several ongoing projects, including finalising guidelines on rape offences following the recent public consultation, and progressing work on domestic abuse and environmental and wildlife crime guidelines.

A second national survey on public perceptions of sentencing will report in 2025, coinciding with the Council's tenth anniversary. This research will help establish a longitudinal dataset to measure the Council's contribution to public understanding over time.

Lady Dorrian, Lord Justice Clerk and Chair of the Council, said: "Having established a strong foundation with our previous guidelines, we are now entering an important phase of work. The development of guidelines on mental health and related issues in sentencing and assault offences will bring particular public value, while our research initiatives will help ensure our work continues to be evidence-based and responsive to public understanding."

Lady Dorrian, who will retire as Lord Justice Clerk and therefore as Chair of the Council in February 2025, added “When I first took on this role in 2016, the Council was in its infancy and grappling with the challenging task of preparing the very first guidelines for the Scottish jurisdiction, addressing the fundamental principles and purposes of sentencing. As the Council moves forward into its second decade, I am confident that it will continue to promote consistency, assist policy development, and promote greater awareness of sentencing policy and practice, and continue to make a significant contribution to the Scottish criminal justice system.”