Asked by: Lord Field of Birkenhead (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2017 to Question 106123, if he will hold discussions with the Chair of the Sentencing Council on linking the length of custodial sentences to the acquisition of specified skills in prison.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Secretary of State will shortly meet the Chairman of the Sentencing Council. An agenda has not yet been agreed but discussions will cover many aspects of custodial and non-custodial sentencing and guidelines.
Asked by: Lord Field of Birkenhead (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Chair of the Sentencing Council on linking the length of custodial sentences to the acquisition of specified skills in prison.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts, taking into account the circumstances of the case and relevant sentencing guidelines, which are published by the independent Sentencing Council. Sentencing Guidelines assist sentencers in determining the seriousness of an offence, considering the offender’s culpability and the harm caused, and any aggravating and mitigating factors.
The Secretary of State for Justice has to date had no discussions with the Chair of the Sentencing Council on linking the length of custodial sentences to the acquisition of specified skills in prison.