Non-Judicial Member of the Sentencing Council with Policing experience
- Body
- Sentencing Council for England and Wales
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Justice
- Sector
- Judicial, Prison & Policing
- Location
- London
- Skills required
- Legal / Judicial
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- £12,000 per annum. For members who receive a full salary from the public purse the remuneration otherwise payable to members is abated. Therefore, in these circumstances there will not be any remuneration in respect of appointment.
- Time Requirements
- 36 days per year
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
20/12/2022
-
Closed for Applications
17/01/2023 at 11:00
-
Panel Sift
28/02/2023
-
Final Interview Date
18/04/2023
-
Announcement
June 2023
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Christina Pride
- Added
- 20/12/2022
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Deputy Director of the Bail, Sentencing and Release Policy, Ministry of Justice Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- The Right Honourable Lord Justice Davis
- Added
- 20/12/2022
- Positions
- Chair of the Sentencing Council Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Rory Geoghegan
- Added
- 20/12/2022
- Positions
- Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales was set up by Part 4 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing, whilst maintaining the independence of the judiciary.
The Sentencing Council is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice, and currently has 15 members.
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales:
- promotes a clear, fair and consistent approach to sentencing;
- produces analysis and research on sentencing;
- works to improve public confidence in sentencing.
The Council fulfils the following functions contained in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009:
- prepares sentencing guidelines;
- prepares a resource assessment to accompany new guidelines
- publishes the resource implications in respect of the guidelines it drafts and issues;
- monitors the operation and effect of its sentencing guidelines and draws conclusions;
- promotes awareness of sentencing and sentencing practice;
- publishes an annual report that includes the effect of sentencing practice and non-sentencing factors
The primary role of the Council is to issue guidelines on sentencing which the courts must follow unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.
Functions
The Sentencing Council has responsibility for:
- developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use;
- assessing the impact of guidelines on sentencing practice. It may also be required to consider the impact of policy and legislative proposals relating to sentencing, when requested by the Government; and
- promoting awareness amongst the public regarding the realities of sentencing and
publishing information regarding sentencing practice in Magistrates courts’ and the Crown court.
Additional Functions
In addition to the functions above, the Council must:
- consider the impact of sentencing decisions on victims;
- monitor the application of the guidelines, and
- when developing guidelines, promote understanding of, and public confidence in, sentencing and the criminal justice system
The role of the Non-Judicial Member with Policing experience
Members are expected to play an active role on the Sentencing Council. The responsibilities of members are to:
- Deal with complex issues and analysis concerning the approach to sentencing and the guidance to be issued to courts. This may be guidance for sentencing particular types of offences (for example, motoring, blackmail or animal cruelty offences) or for crosscutting issues (for example, the significance of previous convictions, or guidance on sentencing cases involving domestic abuse
- Members will also need to contribute to discussion about the identification and analysis of relevant research and data.
- Members are expected to make a positive contribution to the efficient and effective delivery of the Council’s statutory functions and the priorities identified in its business plans and to support the Chair.
- Members and will be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the issues relevant to the work of the Council, both broadly and relating to their area of expertise, and the capacity to develop that understanding further quickly and effectively.
- Members with professional skills, experience in governance, analysis and research methodologies, or communications with media relations, may be expected to attend and participate in one or more of the sub-groups of the Council which focus on these issues.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience or understanding of the criminal justice sector, specifically as a serving senior police officer;
- An understanding of the five core principles of sentencing: punishment, reduction of crime, reparation, rehabilitation and public protection;
- The ability to serve in a personal capacity, drawing on your knowledge and experience, and not as a representative of particular professional associations or viewpoints, to be objective and open-minded, and be able and willing to work as part of a team under the general direction of the Chair, as well as supporting the Chair; and
- The ability to retain the confidence of the Sentencing Council Chair, Ministers, Parliament, the judiciary, other professional bodies in the criminal justice system and the public.
Additional Information
If you have further questions about this post, you are welcome to contact Steve Wade, Head of the Office of the Sentencing Council on 020 7071 5779.
If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact the Public Appointments Team at: PublicAppointmentsTeam@Justice.gov.uk , or call Jenny Goodwin on 07736612626.