What is sentencing?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain different purposes and types of sentencing and evaluate their effectiveness.
Key learning points
- The five purposes of sentencing are to punish, reduce crime, reform, protect the public, and offer reparation.
- There are different types of sentences: discharge, fine, community sentence, and custodial sentence.
- Judges decide sentences based on Sentencing Council guidelines, considering both aggravating and mitigating factors.
- Parliament creates laws that set maximum and minimum sentences for crimes.
Keywords
Sentencing - the punishment that a judge or magistrate decides someone should be given after they have been convicted of a crime
Crime - an illegal act that is punishable by law
Offender - someone who has committed a crime
Common misconception
Judges and magistrates have complete freedom in deciding sentences.
Parliament sets the laws that determine maximum and minimum sentences, and the Sentencing Council provides guidelines that judges and magistrates must follow.
Teacher tip
Use real-life case studies or news stories to show how sentencing works in practice, and have pupils debate the impact of aggravating and mitigating factors on sentences. This can make the topic more relatable and encourage critical thinking.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Youth courts handle -17-year-olds and have different processes to adult court.
Q2.What is this describing? A formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law.
Q3.Match the sentence starter to its end.
someone who handles cases in lower courts involving minor offences.
a person who has broken a law and is facing legal consequences.
someone who makes decisions and oversees cases in higher courts.
Q4.What am I describing? Law that deals with disputes between individuals or groups.
Q5.What am I describing? Rules, usually made by Parliament, that are used to order the way in which a society behaves
Q6.How many parts are there to Parliament?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Fill in the gap. Reform and focuses on helping offenders change their behaviour to prevent future criminal activity.
Q2.If an offender shows remorse, it might be considered a factor when deciding their sentence.
Q3.Which of these would likely result in a more serious sentence?
Q4.Match the terms below to their correct definitions.
a person who has broken a law
an illegal act that is punishable by law
the process of deciding an appropriate punishment
Q5.Which of the following is not one of the main purposes of sentencing?
Q6.Which of the following sentences are correct?
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What is sentencing?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: What is sentencing?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the What are the strengths and weaknesses of the legal system? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.