Sentence Consistency in England and Wales: Evidence from the Crown Court Sentencing Survey

• NCJ Number: 244999
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 53 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2013 Pages: 1118-1138
• Author(s): Jose Pina-Sànchez; Robin Linacre
• Date Published: November 2013
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This study assessed the use of sentencing guidelines for assault issued in England and Wales, and the consistency with which they are applied by judges in the Crown Court.

Abstract

The authors assess the use of sentencing guidelines for assault issued in England and Wales, and the consistency with which they are applied by judges in the Crown Court. The authors used data from the Crown Court Sentencing Survey (CCSS), which records data on legal factors considered in the sentencing guidelines. This gives the authors access to a wide range of explanatory variables, allowing them to produce more robust findings about consistency in sentencing. The authors first employ a standard regression model to determine how guideline factors affect sentence outcomes empirically. Second, a random slopes multilevel model is used to analyze whether these factors have been consistently applied across different Crown Court centers. The results point to a substantial degree of consistency in sentencing. (Published Abstract)