Sentencing Serious Sex Offenders

How Judges Decide when Discretion Is Wide

Diarmuid Griffin (University of Galway, Ireland)

$93.95

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Bristol University Press
08 April 2025

Sexual abuse & harassment; Gender studies, gender groups; Crime & criminology; Offences against the person; Sentencing & punishment

Addressing a lack of high-quality sentencing information in Ireland, this important book explores the factors that influence judges to impose a sentence of long-term imprisonment in sexual offence cases.

Judges have made it clear that sentences of 15 years to life imprisonment are to be reserved for offending that is 'truly egregious'. Griffin, using over 100 serious sexual offence cases, examines what this means in practice. The book is designed to be used in the classroom and the court, as well as providing a solid evidence base to inform the public and policy discourse on sentencing.

By: Diarmuid Griffin (University of Galway Ireland)
Imprint: Bristol University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 203mm, Width: 127mm,
ISBN: 9781529234732
ISBN 10: 1529234735
Pages: 172
Publication Date: 08 April 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , General/trade , Undergraduate , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

1. The principles of sentencing for sexual offences 2. Identifying and punishing a serious sex offender 3. Rationalising and recalibrating outcomes 4. Sentencing sex offenders to life imprisonment 5. The impact of legal constraints 6. Making sense of principle and practice Appendix 1: Methodology

Diarmuid Griffin is Lecturer in criminal law at the University of Galway.

Reviews for Sentencing Serious Sex Offenders: How Judges Decide when Discretion Is Wide

“Sentencing offenders convicted of serious sexual violence is something everyone has an opinion on, but about which very little is actually known. This engaging book based on original research addresses this knowledge gap. It will be a reference point for lawyers, policy makers, activists and academics for years to come.” Sinéad Ring, Maynooth University