The Barbados Supreme Court unveiled its inaugural Sentencing Guidelines, marking a significant milestone in the multi-year Barbados Sentencing Guidelines initiative. Supported by the U.S. and UK Governments through the U.S.-UK Criminal Justice Reform Project, the Sentencing Guidelines introduce a step-by-step process that will help ensure consistency in the approach taken by judges and magistrates when sentencing offenders. The Guidelines will also assist in providing clearer reasons for the sentences passed which can be readily understood by offenders, victims, and the wider public. The first set of Guidelines deal with rape, drug offences, theft, robbery, burglary, aggravated burglary, and causing death by dangerous driving. More Guidelines are slated to be developed and implemented in the future in other areas, including firearms offences.

The Committee’s work was also informed by views received from the public consultation process. Additionally, a training workshop was held to expose judges, magistrates, prosecutors, and defence attorneys to the Guidelines and how they are intended to work.

With the launch of these Sentencing Guidelines, Barbados joins the wider regional sentencing guidelines initiative supported by the U.S.-UK Criminal Justice Reform Project which has to date produced 22 guidelines for the 9 countries that fall under the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC).

Chief Justice Cheltenham in his remarks at the launch emphasised that the Barbados Sentencing Guidelines in no way restrict a judge or magistrate in exercising their discretion when they are determining an appropriate sentence for an offender. Instead, their purpose is to provide a framework that guides the approach that a judge or magistrate takes in coming to a sentence in each case that reflects the crime and its seriousness as well as the circumstances of the offender and other relevant considerations.

U.S. Ambassador to Barbados, the Easten Caribbean and the OECS, Roger Nyhus highlighted the U.S. commitment to ‘best practices in the delivery of justice’ and the very real difference being made through the existing partnership between the U.S. Government and Barbados.  He also commended the combined efforts of the judiciary of Barbados and Mrs Sirah Abraham, Criminal Justice Adviser to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, who leads the U.S.-UK Criminal Justice Reform Project, in bringing this critical initiative to fruition. Ambassador Nyhus also stated that ‘The United States is proud to partner with Barbados to strengthen our institutions for the benefit of all our citizens.’

His Excellency Mr Scott Furssedonn-Wood, British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in addressing the gathering, lauded the judiciary’s commitment to enhancing the administration of justice and to engaging in initiatives that result in meaningful reform within the criminal justice system. He commended the development of the Guidelines which will enhance public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system and also serve to increase transparency and public knowledge around how sentences are arrived at. High Commissioner Furssedonn-Wood pledged the UK’s continued support to the Barbados Sentencing Guidelines Project reiterating the UK Government’s commitment to supporting Barbados’ vision for stronger, more just, and inclusive institutions and for a bright future.

Both the U.S. Ambassador and the British High Commissioner extended congratulations to Chief Justice Cheltenham on his distinguished career and offered best wishes for his impending retirement.