The Sentencing Council

The Sentencing Council is a group in England and Wales responsible for setting guidelines for courts to determine appropriate penalties for crimes. Their goal is to promote consistent and fair sentencing across cases, ensuring that similar crimes receive similar punishments. They analyze factors like the severity of the crime, the offender's background, and the impact on victims. These guidelines help judges make well-informed decisions, balancing justice and public safety, while also providing transparency in the judicial process. Overall, the council aims to make sentencing fair, clear, and applied uniformly.