Sentencing Academy
Research

We commission and collaborate with a diverse range of specialist researchers conducting evaluative, comparative and explorative reports covering key topics in the area of sentencing in England and Wales.

Policy makers, researchers, and special interest groups may find this section of particular interest.

Please let us know if you have any other areas of interest that you would like us to cover.

Take a look at the broad and diverse range of research articles and reports below.

Jun 18, 2022

The Use of Deferred Sentencing in England and Wales: A Review of Law, Guidance and Research

Authors: Professor Julian V. Roberts, Dr Elaine Freer and Dr Jonathan Bild This report provides an introduction to the concept of...

May 23, 2022

Sentencing Guidance, the Sentencing Council, and Black & Ethnic Minority Offenders

By Professor Julian V. Roberts and Professor Andrew Ashworth Our new paper by Professor Julian V. Roberts and Professor Andrew Ashworth...

Jan 23, 2022

Public Knowledge of Sentencing Practice and Trends

The Sentencing Academy has published a new report exploring public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales. Public Knowledge of...

Issues Papers

Apr 25, 2023

Desistance and Sentencing: A Review of Research

By Dr Annie Bunce • Desistance is the cessation of offending by those with previous patterns of criminal behaviour. Desistance is a...

Nov 1, 2022

Fines: A review of the sanction, its use and operation, and research evidence

By Dr Jay Gormley • Criminal fines are the most common criminal sanction and account for about 75% of principal sanctions issued by...

Sep 27, 2022

Sentencing Historic Offenders: September 2022

By Dr Gabrielle Watson This paper reviews approaches to the sentencing of non-recent or ‘historic’ offenders in England and Wales. These...

Aug 4, 2022

Deferred Sentencing: August 2022

By Dr Elaine Freer • Deferred sentences are available to any judge or bench of magistrates sentencing a defendant in the magistrates’...

Jun 22, 2022

Mental Disorder, Disability and Sentencing: June 2022

By Dr Ailbhe O'Loughlin • This paper addresses sentencing practices and policies in respect of convicted offenders with mental disorders,...

Apr 20, 2022

Pre-Sentence Reports: April 2022

By Dr Gwen Robinson • In order for courts to craft and impose appropriate and effective sentences, sentencers need an adequate amount of...

Jan 17, 2022

Intoxication and Sentencing: January 2022

By Dr Carly Lightowlers • Intoxication resulting from substance use commonly features as a contributory factor in offending and thus in...

Nov 29, 2021

Respect and Legitimacy at Sentencing: November 2021

By Dr Gabrielle Watson This paper offers a rare joint discussion of respect and legitimacy at sentencing in England and Wales. A review...

Nov 26, 2021

Defendants' Understanding of Sentencing: November 2021

By Jessica Goldring • Underpinning the sentencing framework is an assumption that defendants understand sentencing practice and will...

Sep 28, 2021

The Suspended Sentence Order in England and Wales: September 2021

By Eleanor Curzon and Julian V. Roberts • The Suspended Sentence Order (SSO) is a custodial sentence option available to magistrates and...

Jun 24, 2021

Ethnicity and Custodial Sentencing: June 2021

By Julian V. Roberts and Jonathan Bild • Over the past 30 years a number of official reports have demonstrated differences in overall...

Mar 30, 2021

Community Orders: March 2021

By Dr Eoin Guilfoyle • The Community Order (CO) is one of the non-custodial sentencing options available to magistrates and judges in...

Did You Know...

Sentencing Academy
Research

Take a look at the broad and diverse range of research articles and reports below.

The Use of Deferred Sentencing in England and Wales: A Review of Law, Guidance and Research

Sentencing Guidance, the Sentencing Council, and Black & Ethnic Minority Offenders

Public Knowledge of Sentencing Practice and Trends

Issues Papers

Desistance and Sentencing: A Review of Research

Fines: A review of the sanction, its use and operation, and research evidence

Sentencing Historic Offenders: September 2022

Deferred Sentencing: August 2022

Mental Disorder, Disability and Sentencing: June 2022

Pre-Sentence Reports: April 2022

Intoxication and Sentencing: January 2022

Respect and Legitimacy at Sentencing: November 2021

Defendants' Understanding of Sentencing: November 2021

The Suspended Sentence Order in England and Wales: September 2021

Ethnicity and Custodial Sentencing: June 2021

Community Orders: March 2021

Did You Know...

The Sentencing Academy is funded by the Dawes Trust.

Collaborate with us

We are keen to work in partnership, being led by the data to inform change. Contact us if there is an area of sentencing or funding that we can work together on. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sentencing Academy Research

Take a look at the broad and diverse range of research articles and reports below.

The Use of Deferred Sentencing in England and Wales: A Review of Law, Guidance and Research

Sentencing Guidance, the Sentencing Council, and Black & Ethnic Minority Offenders

Public Knowledge of Sentencing Practice and Trends

Issues Papers

Desistance and Sentencing: A Review of Research

Fines: A review of the sanction, its use and operation, and research evidence

Sentencing Historic Offenders: September 2022

Deferred Sentencing: August 2022

Mental Disorder, Disability and Sentencing: June 2022

Pre-Sentence Reports: April 2022

Intoxication and Sentencing: January 2022

Respect and Legitimacy at Sentencing: November 2021

Defendants' Understanding of Sentencing: November 2021

The Suspended Sentence Order in England and Wales: September 2021

Ethnicity and Custodial Sentencing: June 2021

Community Orders: March 2021

Did You Know...

The Sentencing Academy is funded by the Dawes Trust.

Collaborate with us

We are keen to work in partnership, being led by the data to inform change. Contact us if there is an area of sentencing or funding that we can work together on. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sentencing Academy
Research