The Imposition guideline is one of the most important of all the Sentencing Council’s guidelines. It sets out the principles that judges and magistrates must follow when imposing community orders and custodial sentences, including deciding whether a custodial sentence can be suspended, and is fundamental to judicial decision-making.
As always, the range of views and expertise provided by respondents to our consultation were of immense value when finalising the revised guideline. The consultation response document has been published alongside the revised guideline, which sets out the invaluable views provided by respondents and the changes the Council has made to the guideline as a result of them. On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank all those that responded to the consultation.
The Council believes this revised guideline will make sure that the courts have the most comprehensive information available about the circumstances of the offender and the offence, and the range of possible sentencing options, so that they can impose a tailored sentence that is the most suitable and appropriate for the offender and offence before them. The guideline contains considerably more detail than the original version and includes some significant new areas of guidance, including new sub sections on sentencing young adult offenders, female offenders, mothers, and pregnant and post-natal offenders.
The revised guideline comes into effect on 1 April 2025 and its contents will be included in training for magistrates, district judges, Crown Court judges and legal advisers in the coming months to ensure all sentencers are aware of the important principles it contains.