Unduly Lenient Sentencing Scheme 2022-12-07
2022-12-07
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The effectiveness of the unduly lenient sentencing scheme is being questioned.
What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the unduly lenient sentencing scheme?
In the vast majority of cases, judges get sentencing right. The Court of Appeal grants permission to refer a sentence only in exceptional circumstances, and over the last five years the Court of Appeal has increased the sentence in around 70% of cases.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific assessment requested but provided general observation instead
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Recent statistics show that only a few cases under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme were referred by victims.
How many of those referrals under the scheme followed representations from the victim of a crime to the Attorney General's Office about the sentence given, and what is being done to ensure that victims are aware of their ability to do that?
Of those 151 cases, only eight were referred by victims and a further nine by a member of a victim's family. We regularly publish updates on the outcome of these sentences, and the revised victims code includes details of the ULS scheme.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific statistics requested but provided general information instead
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Discussion on mandatory minimum sentences often sparks debate around judicial discretion.
Would the Solicitor General recognise that whenever people in this country try to have a debate around mandatory minimum sentences there is an automatic superficial reaction that talks about the need for judicial discretion, yet there are crimes for which we as a Parliament should be clear as to the appropriate sentence that people ought to expect?
It is right to acknowledge that in the vast majority of cases the sentencing judges get it right, but when Parliament sets down the guidelines and the ambits, they should be followed closely.
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Assessment & feedback
Recognition requested but provided general principle instead
Response accuracy