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Dr Rory Kelly, a Lecturer in the School of Law, presented at the Scottish Sentencing Council’s Research Symposium on 20 May. The Symposium considered efficacy in sentencing and was attended by Judges, academics, practitioners and policymakers from across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The event was co-organised with the Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research and the Sentencing Academy.

Dr Kelly’s presentation considered the Language of Sentencing. It argued that key terms in sentencing law often fail to convey the nature of the sanction imposed. Life does not mean life in prison, 10 years’ imprisonment does not mean 10 years in prison, and the victim does not receive the victim surcharge. The presentation reflected on the problems to which this issue of language may give rise and outlined an empirical study to be undertaken on public understanding of key terms in sentencing Law.