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The High Court of Justiciary has today approved a new sentencing guideline developed by the Scottish Sentencing Council, which seeks to reduce reoffending among young people.

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.

It is with great sadness that we learned today of the tragic passing of our former member Stephen O’Rourke QC. Stephen served on the Council between 2015 and 2019, assisting in particular with the Council’s development of Scotland’s first sentencing guidelines and helping to set the foundations of all its future work. His contributions to our discussions were always thoughtful, measured and to the point. Stephen was a highly valued and much liked colleague and friend. He will be deeply missed.

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.

On 3^rd December the Council visited HMP Greenock and the Risk Management Authority in Paisley. The Council also held its last business meeting of 2021 at the RMA. You can read more about the Council’s visits in our latest blog.