Recommendation 13

It is important that offenders understand the sentence they are to serve. Offenders should have ready access to information about the sentencing process, including information about pre-sentence reports at the earliest possible stage. Following sentencing, they should have ready access to information about what their sentence will look like in practice. Offenders, including child defendants, should be given a hard copy of their sentencing remarks. We look forward to the outcome of the pre-sentence reports pilots and encourage the Government to increase the proportion of cases that have access to pre-sentence reports. (Paragraph 71) Public opinion of sentencing