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Allocation and committal for sentence

s.122(2) Coroners and Justice Act 2009 · Both

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Sentencing framework

The guidelines help determine whether a case should be tried in a magistrates' court or the Crown Court based on the seriousness of the offence. It outlines factors to consider for sentencing, including previous convictions and the nature of the case, ensuring that cases are dealt with at the appropriate level.

Court

Both

Mitigating factors

  • ·Seriousness of the case
  • ·Personal mitigation
  • ·Guilty plea reduction

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Determine whether the case is suitable for summary trial or trial on indictment.
  2. Step 2 — Consider personal mitigation and the factors influencing jurisdiction.
  3. Step 3 — Assess the likely sentence in light of factual complexities if any.
  4. Step 4 — Provide warnings and advise parties about potential sentencing outcomes.
  5. Step 5 — Make a decision on whether to commit for sentence where applicable.

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.