Victims' views sought in Scottish Sentencing Council research projects
9 May 2023
Victims of sexual offences and domestic abuse are being asked for their views on sentencing as part of research projects commissioned by the Scottish Sentencing Council.
The research will gather data on victims’ experiences of sentencing, how sentencing was communicated to them, and the factors they would like to see taken into account in sentencing.
Dr Oona Brooks-Hay, of the University of Glasgow, will lead research on sexual assault and rape, while Prof Nancy Lombard, of Glasgow Caledonian University, will explore domestic abuse sentencing.
A third project, led by Dr Jay Gormley, of the University of Glasgow, will also explore public understanding and perceptions of sentence discounting.
The in depth research will help to shape the Council’s evidence-led development of sentencing guidelines.
Developing guidelines for the Scottish courts is a key part of the Council’s work and involves extensive research and engagement across the justice system and with interested groups.
All guidelines are publicly consulted upon before being submitted to the High Court for approval.
In addition to draft guidelines on sexual offences, domestic abuse, and sentence discounting, the Council is currently developing a guideline on environmental and wildlife crime, as well as finalising its first ever offence-specific guideline on death by driving.
To date, three general guidelines have been published for all offences – the principles and purposes of sentencing, the sentencing process, and sentencing young people. These are available to view on the Council’s website.
For further information, please contact sentencingcouncil@scotcourts.gov.uk.
The sexual offences research includes victims and survivors, aged 18 or over, who have gone to court in a rape or sexual assault case in Scotland where there has been a conviction and sentence between 2018 - 2023. For further information, contact oona.brooks@glasgow.ac.uk.
The domestic abuse research involves victims and survivors of domestic abuse involved in cases where the perpetrator was convicted. For further information, please contact nancy.lombard@gcu.ac.uk.