The Independent Sentencing Review
Our response
Today (22 May 2025) could, and should, be a real line-in-the-sand moment for reform of our criminal justice system, offering a genuine opportunity for the Government to fundamentally reshape how the system works. The Independent Sentencing Review’s recommendations are hugely welcome, particularly in their recognition of the voluntary sector’s central role in helping people at every stage of the criminal justice system. Much of what has been recommended aligns with what the sector has been advocating for, for many years.
The Review's key proposals
- Expand the use of the voluntary sector to support people on community sentences and licence.
- Increase funding available for the voluntary sector to support the Probation Service to manage people in the community and enable increased commissioning of local organisations.
- Legislate to ensure short custodial sentences are only used in exceptional circumstances.
- Introduce an 'earned progression' model for people serving Standard Determinate Sentences.
- Expand the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts.
- Provide more sustainable funding for Women's Centres.
- Extend the deferred sentencing period to 12 months.
The Government's response
The Ministry of Justice has published a press release detailing the Lord Chancellor's announcement in the House of Commons, responding to the Review. The Lord Chancellor has accepted the majority of the Review's recommendations in principle. One recommendation that has been rejected is for an earned progression model for people serving Extended Determinate Sentences.
The Lord Chancellor also stated she will go further than the Review's recommendations in certain areas, including through an expansion of unpaid work.
Our response
We have published a full response to the Independent Sentencing Review which provides a detailed analysis of the context within which the Review was commissioned, as well as an exploration of its core recommendations.
Read our full response here
We have also produced a blog which includes Clinks' initial response to the Review, and provides a full list of the Review's recommendations.
Read our blog here
To support the Review’s findings, we will be facilitating opportunities for the sector to engage on any next steps and working directly with officials implementing the reforms across the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service. Please look out across our digital channels for news of engagement opportunities. In the meantime, for any Sentencing Review-related queries, contact the team on policy@clinks.org
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