The Sentencing Academy is proud to have produced the Sentencing Hub, which went live on Monday 17th November.
We were also delighted to have the opportunity to launch it in Parliament yesterday evening at an event sponsored by the Chair of the Justice Committee, Andy Slaughter MP, with additional speeches from Professor Mike Hough, Pavan Dhaliwal of the charity Revolving Doors, and Phoebe Arslanagić-Little of the think tank Onward. We were joined by other Parliamentarians, minister for sentencing Jake Richards MP, and a range of colleagues from the voluntary sector, statutory bodies, academic institutions, think tanks and the media.
The Hub is designed to make the best and most up-to-date data and research on sentencing available and accessible to everyone with an interest in sentencing. Our vision is that it should be used by sentencers, policy-makers, researchers, those who work with both offenders and victims of crime, journalists and, of course, members of the public, in order to enhance both effective sentencing practice and the transparency of public debate.
The Hub is its own best advocate, and is best understood by visiting it and exploring what it has to offer: Sentencing Hub – Research and data on sentencing
Although we have among the best sentencing data in the world, it can be difficult to find, access, and make sense of. The Academy is therefore particularly proud of Hub features such as the offence snapshots, which break down sentencing outcomes and sentence lengths for specific offences in a visually accessible and interactive way. We have also developed a range of infographics to present key facts and statistics on various aspects of sentencing, such as the use of suspended sentence orders and prison sentences of 12 months or less.
The site also includes effectiveness bulletins, which look at the impact of different sentences on the various statutory purposes of sentencing, sentencing explainers, for those looking to understand topics such as deferred sentences, alongside traditional long-form research papers- including on public understanding and perceptions. We are adding new content all the time, and also have a Frequently Asked Questions section to explain more about both what is there and what is not- or not yet.
The launch event was an opportunity to set the Hub within the current context of sentencing policy, practice and public debate. Last week saw Second Reading in the House of Lords for the Government’s Sentencing Bill, which takes forward most recommendations in the Independent Sentencing Review chaired by David Gauke. The availability of good and up-to-date evidence has been critical to allowing any of that high-profile work to happen, and the fact that there is much more of it now than at previous critical junctures in sentencing policy was noted as an important development.
Good evidence means that decision-makers and those who influence their decisions- including the public- can have access to an accurate picture of current sentencing practice, free of myths and misconceptions. It also provides them with the analysis to make their own judgments on the question of effectiveness, despite the fact that this is a term that means different things to different people- whether that is effective punishment, effective promotion of rehabilitation, cost-effectiveness, something else, or a combination of all of these.
There was a recognition in the room that there will always be questions, tensions and indeed controversies about sentencing. More than one speaker made the point that these can intersect with periods of low public confidence in politics and the administration of public services generally, and a political culture that often embraces division. Douglas Hurd’s memorable advice to fellow politicians in the mid-1990s that “we should be a little careful of treating the criminal justice issues as essentially partisan ones which can best be carried forward in an adversarial way” may forever be more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
But while policy-makers may always be subject to pressure to intervene in sentencing policy- including in ways that heighten the risk that it will be less effective, affordable and sustainable- better evidence in the public domain can still help enhance these debates when they arise, and hence produce decisions that are both more informed and more transparent.
That is the thesis that has led to the creation of the Hub, and we look forward to seeing it used by as wide a range of people as possible, whatever their views on what sentencing should ultimately look like.
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The Sentencing Academy is grateful to the Office of Andy Slaughter MP for sponsoring the launch event, to our speakers, and to all those who attended.
Our particular thanks are also due to the Dawes Trust, whose kind support has allowed us to turn a promising idea into reality.
Questions, feedback and suggestions for inclusion are all very welcome, and can be emailed to info@sentencingacademy.org.uk.
