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Highbury Corner Magistrates Court Islington London community outreach presentation
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Sentencing Local CrimeSentencing Local Crime
Highbury Corner Highbury Corner Magistrates’ CourtMagistrates’ Court
Camden and Islington
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Law & Order - Who’s who?Law & Order - Who’s who?
Parliament create and change laws
Police enforce laws and arrest
CPS charge and criminal prosecutions
Magistrates decide guilt and impose sentence
Prison/Probation apply the sentence
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What’s the purpose of sentencing?What’s the purpose of sentencing?
• Punishment
• Reduction in crime / deterrence
• Reform and rehabilitation
• Protection of the public
• Reparation
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Types of sentenceTypes of sentence
Community order
Conditional discharge Fine
Prison/curfew order
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Sentencing - Seriousness
Discharge
conditional
Fine
£5,000
Community Order
unpaid work
supervision
drug rehabilitation etc
programme
exclusion
curfew
Prison
Crown Court
Immediate
Suspended
C o m p e n s a t i o n
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How is a sentencing decision made?How is a sentencing decision made?
2. Assess Seriousness of offence2. Assess Seriousness of offence
3. Consider the offender3. Consider the offender
1. Guidelines1. Guidelines
4. Decide your sentence4. Decide your sentence
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1. Guidelines1. Guidelines
Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines
Starting PointsStarting PointsRangesRanges
Court of Appeal DecisionsCourt of Appeal Decisions
Similar casesSimilar cases
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2. Assessing Seriousness2. Assessing Seriousness
A. CulpabilityIntention?Recklessness?
E.g. AssaultHigher LowerWeapon ProvocationPlanning Single push, blowHead-butting, kickingHostility to victimGroup attack
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B. Harm (or Risk of Harm)To individuals?
To the community?
E.g. AssaultAggravating
Injury
Vulnerable victim / public service
Child present
Previous violence
Alcohol
2. Assessing Seriousness 2. Assessing Seriousness contcont
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3. The offender3. The offender
• Previous record• Lack of remorse• Lack of response to
previous court orders
• Age• Genuine Remorse • Co-operation with Police
More Serious
Less Serious
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Reduced sentence for a guilty pleaReduced sentence for a guilty plea
1/31/3 first opportunityfirst opportunity1/4 1/4 trial date settrial date set1/10 1/10 day of trialday of trial
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You be the magistrateYou be the magistrate
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SentencingSentencing
2. Seriousness - actual offence2. Seriousness - actual offence
3. Consider the offender3. Consider the offender
1. Guideline - type of offence1. Guideline - type of offence
4. Decide your sentence4. Decide your sentence
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1. Type of offence1. Type of offence
Theft: ShopliftingTheft: Shoplifting£50 supermarket groceries£50 supermarket groceries
Guidelines?Guidelines?
Discharge Fine PrisonCommunity
Order
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OffenderOffender
Do you treat them all Do you treat them all the same?the same?
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2. Seriousness of actual offence2. Seriousness of actual offence
TeenagerTeenager ran off & hid itemsran off & hid items
Single mumSingle mum child’s buggy to concealchild’s buggy to conceal
45’ish female45’ish female paid for some shopping paid for some shopping
70 year old man70 year old man aggressive to staffaggressive to staff
Discharge Fine PrisonCommunity
Order
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3. Offender information3. Offender information – Probation Report – Probation Report
TeenagerTeenager student & charity workstudent & charity work
Single mumSingle mum suffering alcohol addictionsuffering alcohol addiction
45’ish female45’ish female on suspended prison on suspended prison sentence for credit fraudsentence for credit fraud
70 year old man70 year old man suffering from Alzheimer’ssuffering from Alzheimer’s
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4. Possible sentence?4. Possible sentence?
TeenagerTeenager Fine?Fine?
Single mumSingle mum CO-Alcohol Programme?CO-Alcohol Programme?
45’ish female45’ish female Prison – Prison – activate activate suspendedsuspended
70 year old man70 year old man Absolute discharge?Absolute discharge?
MAGISTRATES IN THE COMMUNITY
– INCREASE OUR AWARENESS OF LOCAL CONCERNS
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– INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN CJS
– ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS TO BECOME MAGISTRATES.
