Refining the Measurement of Consistency in Sentencing: A Methodological Review
Article (International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice)
Presentation (Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research)
The importance of improving consistency in sentencing has been underscored by institutional reforms in a number of jurisdictions. However, the effectiveness of these policy changes has not been clearly measured. To a certain extent this is due to the methodological confusion reflected by the multiplicity of methods that have been used in the study of consistency in sentencing. Here we review and categorise all of the quantitative methods that have been used to measure consistency in the literature. Our classification differentiates methods based on characteristics such as their robustness, the type of data they require, or whether they are amenable to comparisons in time or across jurisdictions. In this way the paper has a twofold contribution: it simplifies the implementation of future empirical analyses on consistency and facilitates their critical interpretation.
Consistency in Sentencing: A Research Perspective
Research Note (Current Sentencing Practice)
Consistency in sentencing, or the extent to which ‘like cases are treated alike’, is a fundamental element of the rule of law. In its absence, essential principles underpinning the Criminal Justice System, such as predictability, transparency, and in turn, trust, are called into question. The importance of these principles cannot be overstated, particularly in an era where public institutions across the world face difficult questions around the legitimacy of their conduct.
Dr Jose Pina-Sánchez 