+x+xPre-sentence reports are fairly normal and sometimes hugely important, my advice would be to cram in as much positive stuff about your life as possible because there's not room for much of that during sentencing...! Obviously show you're remorseful, ACTUALLY remorseful because they will see through fake remorse. Talk about what you've done since you stopped offending. Lay it all out there. The process is uncomfortable though, it is like judge and jury, the woman I had was stern and detailed but she was doing her job. Mine ended with her saying I'd probably get a community order. However, when I came out with a 9 month suspended sentence and a lengthy SHPO - I was in shock. I know the Crown is open to all sentencing but to go from 'probably community order' to hair's width away from being sent down, it was just unreal. Anyway, you're lucky to get all this advice beforehand, I wish I knew all this back then. You seem convinced you're going away, but if you do, please do come back and tell us what happened when you get out. As all of our experiences matter. My solicitor went to a lot of trouble with my presentence report getting expert psycholical assessments which among other things assessed my risk as low etc but it was all a complete waste of time. The judge had to have his attention drawn to the report before sentencing me. He just literaĺy flicked through the pages, harrumph loud enough for all to hear and put it to one side with complete disregard. I think he had already made up his mind in my opinion. Hi I have spoken about the sentencing hearing previously. In my opinion the processes that hearing adhere to are just about tradition and show for the media and any public attending. Occasionally if an important fact is suddenly presented then that might change the process of that hearing but thats all. In their chambers prior to the hearing the papers will of been read but also discussions with the defence and prosecution will have been ongoings and results passed to the Judge. In regard to psychiatric reports they will help you in the future. I had 2 independent which no one will know if they helped me at my sentencing. However they helped tremendously when at HMP Whatton when they assessed me for a course - found not requiring to undertake any course. Again when on licence, Probation attempted again to place me on a course - again found not requiring to undertake any course. When I started to amend my sopo conditions the independent assessments formed the foundation stone for the legal points in my application. Keep your copies and do not dismiss any supportive evidence. We must accept that at that hearing the Judge has already decided the sentence prior to seating down.
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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