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A podcast by the Scottish Sentencing Council offering a range of views and insights into sentencing in Scotland.
Episodes

Jun 2, 2026
Jun 2, 2026
14 min
This episode explains the steps Scottish judges follow when deciding a sentence. Hear from people with knowledge of the justice system including a sheriff, a prosecutor, a defence solicitor, a social work professor, and a victims’ expert from Victim Support Scotland.
This podcast is accompanied by an interactive web page that invites people to select the sentence they would give the fictitious offender, before revealing what sentences a practising sheriff would have given in the case.

Feb 18, 2025
Feb 18, 2025
25 min
This episode on prison sentencing captures the views of people with knowledge and understanding of the prison system. This includes an offender, a victims’ expert, a senior Scottish Prison Service manager and an academic in criminology.
The conversation offers further information on prison sentencing overall and what a prison sentence involves day to day.

May 8, 2024
May 8, 2024
25 min
Conversation on community sentencing, with perspectives from an offender and a victims’ expert, as well as leading academic Fergus McNeill, professor of criminology and social work.
Sheriff Krista Johnston also explains how sentencing decisions are reached in court and journalist Alan Richardson talks about his experience as a court reporter.
