Law and Rights
Assault cases - Guidelines Council consults on revised sentencing framework
The Sentencing Guidelines Council is consulting on a revised framework for sentencing assault cases - see SGC Consultations. There is a "Public Consultation" and a "Professional Consultation".
The Independent newspaper view of the consultation may be seen here. The Chairman of the Council (Lord Justice Leveson) claims that the revised guidance is not aimed primarily at cutting prison costs by reducing the use of imprisonment for these offences. He claims that he is seeking a fair, proportionate and understandable system as well as consistency of approach across the country. The reader can be the judge of that by responding to, at least, the public consultation.
The consultation looks at the whole range of possible "assault" charges from grievous bodily harm to common assault.
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Reforming The Criminal Law - Law Commission Report On Offences Against The Person
The Law Commission has recommended modernisation of the law on violence - Law Commission Offences against the person: Modernising the law on violence New rules are needed to tackle violent offences and make better use of court time, according to the...
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Sentencing ~ Common Assault
A father attends a school and assaults the Head Teacher. Should this merit a custodial sentence? This was the issue in the case of Paul Stratford - see Daily Mail 21st December. The Head Teacher wished to exclude Stratford's...
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Sentencing Council - A Look At The Draft Guidelines For Drug Offences
Sentencing Council - Professional Consultation on Sentencing for drug offences Consultation and Documentation In 2009, some 50325 adult offenders were sentenced for offences relating to controlled drugs. This is a somewhat complex area and...
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Sentencing Council Issues New Guidelines For Assault Offences
English law has a range of "assault offences" which, in a general ascending order of seriousness are: common assault and battery - (common law offences but Criminal Justice Act 1988 s.39 applies) assault occasioning actual bodily harm -...
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Time Off For Early Admission Of Guilt
The Times, which is unfortunately hidden behind a "pay wall", reports that there are plans to reward those who admit their crimes at the first possible stage. Under present sentencing guidelines a discount on sentence of up to one-third is available...
Law and Rights