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Sentencing children and young people

s.120 Coroners and Justice Act 2009 · Crown / Magistrates

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Sentencing framework

The guideline emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment for children and young people, centering around their individual welfare, age, and maturity. It dictates that custodial sentences should be a last resort, only used when necessary to prevent serious harm. Sentences should also reflect the seriousness of the offence while considering the developmental needs and vulnerabilities of young offenders.

Maximum sentence

Life imprisonment

Court

Crown / Magistrates

Offence range

Absolute discharge - 24 months custody

Aggravating factors

  • ·Previous findings of guilt
  • ·Offence committed whilst on bail
  • ·Offence motivated by hostility based on victim's characteristics

Mitigating factors

  • ·No previous findings of guilt
  • ·Remorse
  • ·Good character
  • ·Unstable upbringing
  • ·Participation due to peer pressure
  • ·Limited understanding of effect on victim
  • ·Young/mature child

Sentencing range explorer

Select the culpability level and harm category to see the guideline's starting point and category range. This is an educational illustration of the published guideline — not a sentence calculation, and not legal advice. Courts apply the full step-by-step process, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the totality principle.

Culpability

Harm

Select a culpability level and a harm category above.

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — Determine the offence category based on culpability and harm.
  2. Step 2 — Identify the starting point sentence.
  3. Step 3 — Consider any aggravating or mitigating factors.
  4. Step 4 — Determine the final sentence within the appropriate range.

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.