Which recommendations of the Sentencing Commission for Scotland’s report, The Scope to Improve Consistency in Sentencing, it intends to acc…

The Scope to ImproveConsistency in Sentencingwas presented to the previous administration and published in September 2006. Itcontains 25 recommendations which for the most part pertain to the introductionof a process for giving effect to sentencing guidelines and the creation of a newstatutory body which would be responsible for their preparation and presentationfor consideration to the Appeal Court of the High Court of Justiciary.
We believe that thereis a case for sentencing guidelines in order to deliver consistent sentencing andso improve public confidence in the criminal justice system. We are taking forwardour consideration of the case for a Sentencing Council but our immediate priorityin the context of sentencing is to improve the delivery of community sentences soas to improve judicial and public confidence in them as alternatives to custody.