Attorney General’s Reference of an Unduly Lenient Sentence
Can My Sentence Be Increased?
The sentencing process is the beginning of the end for many defendants. They can receive and accept their punishment and prepare to move on with their lives at the conclusion of any sentence imposed. For some, however, the anguish is not over as an appeal against the length or type of sentence might be looming because it is arguably an unduly lenient sentence.
Who Can Appeal?
The Attorney General and the Solicitor General have the power to apply for leave to appeal sentences for some offences to the Court of Appeal. This will be where the sentence is viewed as ‘unduly lenient’.
The Attorney General may become aware of any given case in different ways. it might be because the prosecution has referred it for consideration. Alternatively it might be because any other person, such as the victim or a member of the public, has brought it to their attention.
What Offences Does This Apply To?
There is a long list of offences which may be referred for consideration by the Court of Appeal.
- Any offence triable only on indictment. These will include, for example, murder or robbery. The provision also includes youths who are tried before the Youth Court for indictable only offences. More and more frequently, this will include serious sexual offences.
- A range of offences that are sentenced in the Crown Court. These will include offences of violence, sexual offences, drugs, immigration, slavery and trafficking.
- A range of terrorism offences.
Is There a Time Limit?
A notice of appeal must be filed with the Court of Appeal no later than 28 days after the sentencing hearing. There is no power available to extend this time limit.
What Happens If There Is an Appeal?
The Court will apply a three stage procedure when considering an unduly lenient sentence. The court has expressed its role as follows:
‘We first of all consider the question of whether to grant such leave. It is important in approaching such matters to understand the safeguards that Parliament thought were appropriate to build in to the departure from what was then the law that there no question of increasing a sentence arose to the new procedures that enabled such a reference to be made.
Those new procedures required a number of steps to be taken before any such sentence could be increased. The first was that the Attorney General had to consider the matter and decide for himself whether he considered the sentence to be unduly lenient.
The second was that he then had to exercise his discretion as to whether there should be a reference because he was given a power to refer and there was no requirement that he should do so.
The third matter was that the court then had itself to consider whether to accept and grant leave for the referral.
Thereafter the court has to consider whether it considers the sentence to be unduly lenient and the final safeguard is that the court has to determine for itself whether, even if it does consider it unduly lenient, it would be right in the exercise of its discretion to increase that sentence. Each one of those steps was clearly a step that Parliament thought to be a necessary safeguard in changing the law.’
What Is an Unduly Lenient Sentence?
It will not be easy to spot such a sentence. This is because the sentencing exercise is always fact specific. In cases where there are sentencing guidelines in place it may be easier to identify unduly lenient sentences. This will not always be the case however. The task is often much more difficult when there are no guidelines. Alternatively it may be a case where there is particularly powerful mitigation.
The Court of Appeal test for undue leniency is:
‘A sentence is unduly lenient where it falls outside the range of sentences which the judge, applying his mind to all the relevant factors, could reasonably consider appropriate.’
What Happens If a Sentence Is Found to Be Unduly Lenient?
Where the Court considers the sentence unduly lenient, it has a discretion as to whether to exercise its powers:
‘Without attempting an exhaustive definition of the circumstances in which this court might refuse to increase an unduly lenient sentence, we mention one obvious instance: where, in the light of events since the trial it appears either that the sentence can be justified or that to increase it would be unfair to the offender or detrimental to others for whose well-being the court ought to be concerned.’
Next Steps
If you have instructed VHS Fletchers in your case after your sentencing we will give you immediate advice if we have concerns that there may be a complaint that you have received an unduly lenient sentence. Unfortunately, the process is out of our hands however and we have no control over whether or not a reference is made.
In the event of an appeal, a great deal of work can be done on your behalf to prepare your case for this next stage. Thorough preparation can make all the difference as to whether or not the court of appeal interferes with your sentence.
If you face an appeal on the basis that you received an unduly lenient sentence or are concerned about any aspect of criminal law or sentencing then do not hesitate to contact your nearest office to speak to a criminal law specialist.
Alternatively you can use the contact form below.
