Does Malaysia Need a Sentencing Council? Lessons From the UK

Back in July, Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said mentioned that the government is studying the establishment of a sentencing council to review all criminal sentences including drug-related sentences in Malaysian legislations. The former Law Minister said something similar last October, adding that the sentencing council would be an independent public body, similar to the council established in the UK. But what exactly is the UK Sentencing Council? We speak to Jessica Jacobson, Professor of Criminal Justice and Director of Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, Birkbeck, University of London, and Mai Sato, Associate Professor, Director of Eleos Justice, Monash University.

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