Extending suspended sentences to three years: pragmatism or pressure valve?

Corker Binning Associate Gemma Motion writes for Solicitors Journal and examines the implications of the Sentencing Act 2026, which extends the courts’ ability to suspend custodial sentences of up to three years. Set against the backdrop of sustained pressure on the prison estate, the article considers how this incremental expansion of judicial discretion may influence sentencing practice, the balance between custody and rehabilitation, and the practical demands placed on probation services.

Read the full article here: Extending suspended sentences to three years: pragmatism or pressure valve? – Solicitors Journal