Legislation – Sentencing Act 2020

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Introduction

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE A1 Offences where terrorist connection not required to be considered

SCHEDULE 1 Offences committed before the commencement of section 1 of the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021
where terrorist connection to be considered

SCHEDULE 2 Order for conditional discharge: commission of further offence

SCHEDULE 3 Youth offender contract: programme of behaviour

SCHEDULE 4 Referral order: further court proceedings

SCHEDULE 5 Breach, revocation and amendment of reparation order

SCHEDULE 6 Youth rehabilitation orders: requirements

SCHEDULE 7 Breach, revocation or amendment of youth rehabilitation order

SCHEDULE 8 Transfer of youth rehabilitation orders to Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 9 Community orders and suspended sentence orders: requirements

SCHEDULE 10 Breach, revocation or amendment of community order

SCHEDULE 11 Transfer of community orders to Scotland or Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 12 Detention and training order: breach of supervision requirements and further offences

SCHEDULE 13 Special sentence for offenders of particular concern: offences

SCHEDULE 14 Extended sentences: the earlier offence condition: offences

SCHEDULE 15 Life sentence for second offence: listed offences

SCHEDULE 16 Breach or amendment of suspended sentence order, and effect of further conviction

SCHEDULE 17 Transfer of suspended sentence orders to Scotland or Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE 17A Serious terrorism offences

SCHEDULE 18 Specified offences for purposes of section 306

SCHEDULE 19 Schedule 19 offences

SCHEDULE 20 Detention under section 250 and minimum sentences: firearms offences

SCHEDULE 21 Determination of minimum term in relation to mandatory life sentence for murder etc

SCHEDULE 22 Amendments of the Sentencing Code and related amendments of other legislation

SCHEDULE 23 Powers to amend the Sentencing Code

SCHEDULE 24 Consequential amendments

SCHEDULE 25 Amendments to the Armed Forces Act 2006

SCHEDULE 26 Further amendments of the Armed Forces Act 2006

SCHEDULE 27 Transitional provisions and savings

SCHEDULE 28 Repeals and revocations

SCHEDULE 29 Repeals and revocations for England and Wales

Changes to legislation:

Sentencing Act 2020, Paragraph 10 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 15 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

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SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 21Determination of minimum term in relation to mandatory life sentence for murder etc

Aggravating and mitigating factors

10

Mitigating factors that may be relevant to the offence of murder include—

(a)

an intention to cause serious bodily harm rather than to kill,

(b)

lack of premeditation,

(c)

the fact that the offender suffered from any mental disorder or mental disability which (although not falling within section 2(1) of the Homicide Act 1957) lowered the offender’s degree of culpability,

F1(ca)

where the offence was committed on or after the day on which the Sentencing Act 2020 (Amendment of Schedule 21) Regulations 2024 came into force, the fact that the victim had repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour towards the offender that was controlling or coercive and, at the time of the behaviour, the victim and the offender were personally connected within the meaning of section 76(6) to (7) of the Serious Crime Act 2015,

(d)

the fact that the offender was provoked (for example, by prolonged stress) but, in the case of a murder committed before 4 October 2010, in a way not amounting to a defence of provocation,

(e)

the fact that the offender acted to any extent in self-defence or, in the case of a murder committed on or after 4 October 2010, in fear of violence,

(f)

a belief by the offender that the murder was an act of mercy, and

(g)

the age of the offender.