This book explores the law, philosophy, and wider implications of that brief but highly consequential moment when a judge imposes sentence on a convicted offender.

Sentencing is one of the most contested aspects of contemporary criminal justice. It is an important field of study, both as an instance of coercive state power over the citizen and the point at which the statutory purposes of punishment are given concrete and public expression.

Focusing on England and Wales, with occasional comparative reference to sentencing practice around the world, topics include the legal and ethical implications of pleading guilty; the origins and development of sentencing guidelines, and the 'ordinary' language in which the sentence itself must be pronounced in open court. Tensions arise over the appropriate treatment of cohorts including the young, racialised, mentally disordered, and dangerous, and the disparate outcomes it can generate – not only in England and Wales, but on the global stage.

At a time of unprecedented crisis – from the phenomenon of 'sentence inflation' 50 years in the making, to the criminal court backlog, to an overcrowded prison estate – the book concludes with an appraisal and critique of the Sentencing Act 2026. Pitched as a once-in-a-generation attempt at meaningful justice reform, its precise impact remains to be seen.

Key Features:
-Offers an original account of a field on the verge of reform, equipping readers with a rich and robust evidence base
-Reconciles classical theories of punishment with modern case law and sentencing practice
-Comparative insights provide perspective and distance, enabling readers to form their own views on a complex field