The Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council entered into a contract with the University of Strathclyde for the purpose of a project entitled “Assessing Methodological Approaches to Sentencing Data Collection and Analysis”.
Meaningful sentencing guidelines are contingent on an in-depth, empirically grounded understanding of sentencing practice. In Ireland, there is limited available data and research on sentencing.
This original research provides an analysis of existing methodologies for sentencing data collection in Ireland, as well as an evaluation of the utility of methodologies employed in other jurisdictions in assisting the work of the Committee.
The University conducted research on methodologies for gathering, synthesising and analysing sentencing data which will assist the Committee in the discharge of its functions. The first three reports are as follows:
Interim Report 1: Literature review of existing sentencing methodologies and data 1st Interim Report.pdf
Interim Report 2: Literature review of sentencing methodologies and best practice 2nd Interim Report.pdf
Interim Report 3: Recommendations for data collection and analysis 3rd Interim Report.pdf
Final Report : Strathclyde Final Report.pdf
The University's research team is as follows
Professor Cyrus Tata, Centre for Law, Crime & Justice, Law School University of Strathclyde, Scotland
Tom O’Malley, National University of Ireland at Galway, and Barrister, Ireland
Professor Julian Roberts, Centre for Criminological Research, University of Oxford, and former Member of the Sentencing Council of England & Wales
Dr Jay Gormley, Centre for Law, Crime & Justice, Law School University of Strathclyde, Scotland
Professor Cassia Spohn, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, USA