INFORMATION & CONSENT SHEET You are being invited to take part in a research study to further our understanding of sentencing decision-making. Thank you for carefully reading this information sheet, a copy of which you can keep for your records. This study is being...
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Campaigning for fairness in criminal lawSentencing Council: Publication of revised definitive Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline
The Sentencing Council has today published a significantly revised Imposition of community and custodial sentences guideline. This can be found here on our website. The Imposition guideline is one of the most important of all the Sentencing Council’s guidelines. It...
Sentencing Council: Publication of new and revised motoring-related guidelines
The Sentencing Council has published a package of new and revised motoring-related guidelines. These can be found here alongside the consultation response document, which sets out the changes the Council has made to the draft guidelines it consulted on in 2024. The...
MoJ implements Operation Early Dawn – Mags Court impacted from tomorrow
URGENT CLSA RELEASE -14/05/2024 We have been informed this evening that the Lord Chancellor is triggering an emergency measure, Operation Early Dawn, to deal with the worsening problem of the prison population. Details are somewhat lacking but it appears to be an...
Miscellaneous amendments sentencing guidelines come into effect on 1 April 2024
Miscellaneous amendments coming into effect On 1 April 2024, changes made to a number of sentencing guidelines in response to the Council’s 2023 Miscellaneous amendments consultation will come into effect. The amendments, which apply to both magistrates’ court and...
Improvements to the PET and BCM forms in Common Platform
Following feedback from defence practitioners, HMCTS has improved the digitised Preparation for Effective Trial (PET) and Better Case Management (BCM) forms on Common Platform. They’re making changes in 2 releases. The first set of improvements went live Monday 18...
Miscellaneous amendments to sentencing guidelines – response to consultation
The Sentencing Council has published details of amendments it will be making to a number of sentencing guidelines following consultation. The changes apply to guidelines in both magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court and will come into force on 1 April 2024. The...
Consultation on proposed guidelines for aggravated vehicle taking and other motoring offences
The Sentencing Council is consulting on six new and revised sentencing guidelines for motoring offences in England and Wales. The draft guidelines cover offences committed by people driving vehicles without the owner’s consent, vehicle registration fraud and driver...
Crime Lower Common Billing Errors – LAA February 2024
Click here to read the document To be paid in full for your work under the Standard Crime Contract, the Legal Aid Agency requires that you follow contractual requirements and the Remuneration Regulations in relation to the accuracy of costs claimed. The purpose of...