On 9 July 2019, JUSTICE responded to the Sentencing Council consultation on its Sentencing Offenders with Mental Health Conditions or Disorders Guideline.
Our 2017 Mental Health and Fair Trial report recommended that a sentencing guideline on mental health and vulnerability should be created. JUSTICE welcomes the Sentencing Council Guideline, which is a direct response to our recommendation. The response highlights that such a guideline will be immensely helpful to courts, prosecution and defence advocates, and other practitioners (such as probation and liaison and diversion), in determining the appropriate outcome for vulnerable defendants. In our response we suggest observations that we hope will improve the Guideline. JUSTICE reconvened members of the Working Party to consider the proposed Guideline prior to submitting this response.