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Year 10

What is the purpose of sentencing?

I can explain why there are different types of sentencing and evaluate how effective each might be.

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New
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Year 10

What is the purpose of sentencing?

I can explain why there are different types of sentencing and evaluate how effective each might be.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There are a range of different sentences, including custodial and community sentences, fines and discharges.
  2. Youth sentencing is slightly different and focuses on rehabilitative imposed orders designed to reshape behaviour.
  3. When sentencing, judges must use guidelines that provide minimum and maximum sentences and factors to consider.
  4. Sentences can rehabilitate and provide retribution. Both have positive and negative points and the UK uses both.

Keywords

  • Sentence - the punishment given to a person found guilty in a court case

  • Aggravating factors - circumstances that increase the seriousness of the offence

  • Mitigating factors - circumstances that reduce the seriousness of the offence

  • Rehabilitation - in this context, the process of returning to, or helping someone return to, a healthy or good way of life after they have offended

  • Retribution - a response to criminal behaviour that focuses on holding offenders accountable through punishment

Common misconception

Punishment is the only purpose of sentencing.

To try and change behaviour, rehabilitation is also needed. This aims to reduce further crime being committed.

Use real-life examples to explain the purposes of sentencing, like rehabilitation, deterrence, incapacitation and retribution. Ask students to think of sentences they’ve seen in the news and discuss which purpose each one serves. This makes abstract concepts concrete and memorable.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
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except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an offender?
Correct answer: a person who commits an illegal act
a person who defends someone in court
a person who has offended a judge
a person who passes sentence in court
Q2.
Match the crime factor to its definition.
Correct Answer:poor education,lack of grades can make employment difficult
tick

lack of grades can make employment difficult

Correct Answer:unkempt environment ,crimes are committed as the perception is no one cares or is watching
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crimes are committed as the perception is no one cares or is watching

Correct Answer:peer influence,directly or indirectly encouraged to engage in criminal behaviour
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directly or indirectly encouraged to engage in criminal behaviour

Correct Answer:substance abuse,can impact decision making and lower inhibitions
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can impact decision making and lower inhibitions

Q3.
Who decides the sentence in a crown court?
Correct Answer: judge, a judge
Q4.
Do we have the death penalty in the UK?
Correct answer: No, it was abolished in 1998.
No, we have never had the death penalty.
No, it was abolished in 2008.
Yes, but it is only used in extremely rare circumstances.
Yes, it is used frequently.
Q5.
What is the lowest age of criminal responsibility used in the UK?
Correct Answer: 10, ten, ten years old, 10 years old
Q6.
Which statement is true?
No crimes are seen as more serious than others.
No crimes are different.
Correct answer: No two crimes are the same.
No two crimes can be committed at once.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What should sentencing provide for victims?
Correct Answer: justice , retribution
Q2.
Match the custodial type of sentencing to its definition.
Correct Answer:whole life order,the offender will never leave prison
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the offender will never leave prison

Correct Answer:life sentence,a long sentence that must be completed in full
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a long sentence that must be completed in full

Correct Answer:determinate prison sentence,fixed sentence, half spent in prison and half on license
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fixed sentence, half spent in prison and half on license

Correct Answer:indeterminate prison sentence,sentence not fixed, parole board decide release date
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sentence not fixed, parole board decide release date

Q3.
Painting a playground fence could be an example of what type of sentence?
Correct Answer: Community sentence, Community service , Community Order
Q4.
Which is the most common type of sentence in the UK?
Correct Answer: Fines, Paying money, paying back money, fine, a fine
Q5.
What do sentencing guidelines not provide for judges?
the minimum sentence that can be given
the maximum sentence that can be given
Correct answer: the way in which the crime must be reported by the media
the factors that must be considered regarding blame
Q6.
Why might retribution focused sentencing be viewed as ineffective?
It doesn't act as a deterrent.
It doesn't provide justice for victims.
Correct answer: It doesn't tackle the root cause of crime.
It doesn't act as a punishment.