Sentencing Act 2026 - The Key Changes Explored

Introduction

This webinar will look at the key changes brought about by the Sentencing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026, following the Independent Sentencing Review by Gauke of 2025.

This is aimed at busy practitioners who want an easy yet comprehensive digest of the main changes brought about by the Sentencing Act 2026.

It is critical for any criminal justice practitioner to know about the fundamental changes from this legislation and to have that information at their fingertips, particularly as some of those key sections come into force on 22 March 2026.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Presumption of suspended sentence orders for sentences of 12 months or less - looking at exceptional circumstances and exemptions
• Allowance for sentences up to 3 years to be suspended
• Amending purposes of sentencing
• Deferment periods - extended to 12 months
• Judicial findings on domestic abuse at point of sentencing
• Whole life orders for murder of police, prison or probation officers
• New community order requirements
• Sentencing Guidelines and approval pre-issuance
• Movement towards an earned progression model - changes to release for Standard Determinate Sentences
• Changes to the recall model
• Amendments to Bail Act 1976
• Release for certain repatriated prisoners
• Deportation of foreign criminals

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Friday 20th March 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,300+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.