A person charged under Section 20 will always require legal representation as soon as they have been charged. border-color:#000000; (a) in the case of a prisoner custody officer, means the functions specified in section 80(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; (b) in the case of a custody officer, means the functions specified in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; NHS health services means any kind of health services provided as part of the health service continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006 and under section 1(1) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006; prisoner custody officer has the meaning given by section 89(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The following is a list of factors which the court should consider to determine the level of aggravation. The circumstances of the individual offence and the factors assessed by offence-specific guidelines will determine whether an offence is so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified. However, such a condition, even when it is difficult to treat in prison, will not automatically entitle the offender to a lesser sentence than would otherwise be appropriate. .nf-form-content .nf-field-container #nf-field-88-wrap .nf-field-element .ninja-forms-field:hover { But, an offenders knowledge that he will likely face the prospect of death in prison, subject only to the ERCG provisions, is a factor that can be considered by the sentencing judge when determining the sentence that it would be just to impose. In considering this the court must NOT consider any licence or post sentence supervision requirements which may subsequently be imposed upon the offenders release. background-color:#424242; Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) Section 20 is an offence contained within Section 20 Offences Against the Person Act 1861. History of violence or abuse towards victim by offender. These examples are not exhaustive and do not necessarily indicate that abuse of trust is present. * A highly dangerous weapon can include weapons such as knives and firearms. A custodial sentence must not be imposed unless the offence or the combination of the offence and one or more offences associated with it was so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community sentence can be justified for the offence. Identify whether any combination of these, or other relevant factors, should result in an upward or downward adjustment from the starting point. Section 20 Maximum: 5 years' custody Offence range: Community order - 4 years 6 months' custody Section 29 Maximum: 7 years' custody These are specified offences for the purposes of section 226A (extended sentence for certain violent, sexual or terrorism offences) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. do you have to serve diagonally in tennis. iii) Where the court imposes two or more sentences to be served consecutively, the court may suspend the sentence where the aggregate of the terms is between 14 days and 2 years (subject to magistrates courts sentencing powers). Where no offence specific guideline is available to determine seriousness, the harm caused by the offence, the culpability of the offender and any previous convictions will be relevant to the assessment. When considering the totality of previous offending a court should take a rounded view of the previous crimes and not simply aggregate the individual offences. Custody should not be imposed where a community order could provide sufficient restriction on an offenders liberty (by way of punishment) while addressing the rehabilitation of the offender to prevent future crime. Racial or religious aggravation was the predominant motivation for the offence. the fact that someone is working in the public interest merits the additional protection of the courts. } Any appropriate rehabilitative requirement(s), Curfew requirement for example up to 16 hours per day for a few weeks**, Curfew requirement for example up to 16 hours per day for 2 3 months**, Exclusion requirement lasting in the region of 6 months, Curfew requirement for example up to 16 hours per day for 4 12 months**, Exclusion requirement lasting in the region of 12 months. The sentencer should state in open court that the offence was aggravated by reason of race or religion, and should also state what the sentence would have been without that element of aggravation. The primary significance of previous convictions (including convictions in other jurisdictions) is the extent to which they indicate trends in offending behaviour and possibly the offenders response to earlier sentences. Useful information can be found in the Equal Treatment Bench Book (see in particular Chapter 6 paragraphs 131 to 137). (b) must state in open court that the offence is so aggravated. Simplified Standard Witness Table (revised March 2018). Offences for which penalty notices are available, 5. color:#0080aa; In particular, a Band D fine may be an appropriate alternative to a community order. .nf-form-content .nf-field-container #nf-field-87-wrap .nf-field-label label { The following factors should be weighed in considering whether it is possible to suspend the sentence: Factors indicating that it would not be appropriate to suspend a custodial sentence, Factors indicating that it may be appropriate to suspend a custodial sentence, Offender presents a risk/danger to the public, Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody, History of poor compliance with court orders, Immediate custody will result in significant harmful impact upon others. An immature offender may find it particularly difficult to cope with custody and therefore may be more susceptible to self-harm in custody. The maximum sentence for s20 is five years' imprisonment. The level of culpability is determined by weighing all the factors of the case. Leaving care services may change at the age of 21 and cease at the age of 25, unless the young adult is in education at that point). s20 gbh sentencing guidelines - bannerelkarchitect.com Care should be taken to avoid double counting matters taken into account when considering previous convictions. } (4) For the purposes of this section, an offence is aggravated by hostility of one of the kinds mentioned in subsection (1) if, (a) at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender demonstrated towards the victim of the offence hostility based on. (3) Where the court treats a relevant previous conviction as an aggravating factor under subsection (2) it must state in open court that the offence is so aggravated. The emotional and developmental age of an offender is of at least equal importance to their chronological age (if not greater). Aggravated nature of the offence caused serious fear and distress throughout local community or more widely. Automatic orders on conviction for sexual offences, Additional note: Availability of ancillary orders, 1. Suggested starting points for physical and mental injuries, 1. Where the offender is dealt with separately for a breach of an order regard should be had to totality. To ensure that the overall terms of the suspended sentence are commensurate with offence seriousness, care must be taken to ensure requirements imposed are not excessive. Leaving care services may change at the age of 21 and cease at the age of 25, unless the young adult is in education at that point). border-color:#000000; Abuse of trust may occur in many factual situations. The Sentencing Council is only collecting data for adult offenders. This factor may apply whether or not the offender has previous convictions. The court should consider the time gap since the previous conviction and the reason for it. iv) When the court suspends a sentence, it may impose one or more requirements for the offender to undertake in the community. Do not retain this copy. In all cases, the court should consider whether to make compensation and/or other ancillary orders. (6) Nothing in this section prevents a court from treating the fact that an offence was committed against an emergency worker acting in the exercise of functions as such as an aggravating factor in relation to offences not listed in subsection (3). Care should be taken to avoid double counting where the statutory aggravating factor relating to emergency workers or to those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing services to the public applies. Previous convictions of a type different from the current offence. Offences against the Person, incorporating the Charging Standard font-size:12pt; (5) For the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4), it is immaterial whether or not the offenders hostility is also based, to any extent, on any other factor not mentioned in that paragraph. First time offenders usually represent a lower risk of reoffending. Aggravated nature of the offence caused severe distress to the victim or the victims family (over and above the distress already considered at step one). The seriousness of any grievous bodily harm offence is classified by the level of harm caused. s20 gbh sentencing guidelines General principles to be considered in the sentencing of children and young people are in the Sentencing Council definitive guideline, Overarching Principles Sentencing Children and Young People. Effective in relation to convictions on or after 28 June 2022, 68A Assaults on those providing a public service etc, (a) a court is considering the seriousness of an offence listed in subsection (3), and. See also the Sentencing Children and Young People Guideline (paragraphs 1.16 and 1.17). Care should be taken to avoid double counting matters taken into account when considering previous convictions. Regulatory Law & Criminal Defence | Old Bailey Solicitors - London Notice: JavaScript is required for this content. It may also include ad hoc situations such as a late-night taxi driver and a lone passenger. Our criteria for developing or revising guidelines. the cash guideline premium and corridor test; movie haitien le destin de caroline Reoffending rates for first offenders are significantly lower than rates for repeat offenders. Wounding and Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) - e-lawresources.co.uk If a custodial sentence is imposed it should be proportionate and kept to the necessary minimum. Source: Sentencing Council: Inflicting grievous bodily harm/ Unlawful wounding/ Racially or religiously aggravated GBH/ Unlawful wounding. Magistrates: Consult your legal adviser before deciding to sentence to custody without a pre-sentence report. Aggravated element formed a minimal part of the offence as a whole. .nf-form-content .nf-field-container #nf-field-85-wrap .nf-field-label label { In many cases, a pre-sentence report will be pivotal in helping the court decide whether to impose a community order and, if so, whether particular requirements or combinations of requirements are suitable for an individual offender. Section 174 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 imposes a duty to give reasons for, and explain the effect of, the sentence. 9BR Chambers on LinkedIn: Max Hardy quoted in the Daily Mail on why Maximum sentence for the aggravated offence on indictment is 7 years custody (maximum when tried summarily is 6 months custody), Care should be taken to avoid double counting factors already taken into account in assessing the level of harm at step one. Where the offender is a care leaver the court should enquire as to any effect a sentence may have on the offenders ability to make use of support from the local authority. But, an offenders knowledge that he will likely face the prospect of death in prison, subject only to the ERCG provisions, is a factor that can be considered by the sentencing judge when determining the sentence that it would be just to impose. Very clearly explained the process, took his time over getting a very clear and accurate history of events and mitigation. (i) hostility towards members of a racial group based on their membership of that group. font-size:16pt; border-style:solid; color:#0080aa; Our criminal defence lawyers have vast experience dealing with the full range of v iolent offences; from murder, manslaughter, kidnap and robbery to minor assaults. See Totality guideline. In some cases, having considered these factors, it may be appropriate to move outside the identified category range. Section 59(1) of the Sentencing Code provides that: unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.. border-style:solid; Cases falling between category A or C because: Factors in both high and lesser categories are present which balance each other out; and/or, The offenders culpability falls between the factors as described in high and lesser culpability, Impulsive/spontaneous and short-lived assault, Mental disorder or learning disability, where linked to the commission of the offence, Particularly grave and/or life-threatening injury caused, Injury results in physical or psychological harm resulting in lifelong dependency on third party care or medical treatment, Offence results in a permanent, irreversible injury or condition which has a substantial and long term effect on the victims ability to carry out their normal day to day activities or on their ability to work, Offence results in a permanent, irreversible injury or condition not falling within category 1, The seriousness of the offence should be the.