Sentencing in the District Courts, 2003

January 7, 2005

In June 2003, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) undertook a research study on patterns of sentencing in the Dublin District Court. The purpose of this research was twofold:

• First, the IPRT wished to identify how judges used the sentencing options open to them and what patterns, if any, were identifiable in their choices.
• Second, the IPRT sought to determine how often reasons were given by judges for the sentences they imposed, particularly when these sentences were for periods of detention.

Original Research conducted by Aaron Hunter and Emma Ward; Research Brief prepared by Aaron Hunter and Claire Hamilton; Edited by Rick Lines.