Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice

The Language of Sentencing

Dr Rory Kelly, University College London, Faculty of Law

Key terms in sentencing law are often misleading. An offender will not serve five years in prison when sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. Suspended sentences are not suspended. The victim does not receive the victim surcharge. In this talk Dr Rory Kelly (UCL) will discuss the number of problems the misleading language of sentencing poses. This state of affairs may lead to confusion and/or dissatisfaction from stakeholders in criminal justice. It may also prompt creeping punitivism where the realities of a sentence are less severe than the label.

This event will take place in-person on Wednesday 18 January 2023 at 12:30pm in the Board Room (MST.09.022)