A judicial group has been formed to draw up directions on how the courts should sentence offenders.

Larry Mussenden, the Chief Justice of Bermuda, announced the creation of the Sentencing Guidelines Committee, which had its inaugural meeting last Tuesday.

The committee, headed by Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe, will determine the best practices for Bermuda based on the island’s needs and successful measures in other countries.

Mr Justice Wolffe said: “An immoveable pillar of the Criminal Justice System is that those who are convicted of crimes can rest assured that any sentence which they receive for the offence which they committed will be in accordance with established legal principles and precedence.

“The formulation of and the eventual adherence to sentencing guidelines will provide further assurances to convicted persons, victims of crime and the wider public that sentences meted out by the courts will be consistent and will be proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the offender.”

Sentencing guidelines help magistrates and judges to consider the seriousness of an offence and decide on the appropriate sentence for the case.

They take into account the personal circumstances of the offender and the impact of the offence to make sure that the sentence reflects the particulars of the crime committed.

Sentencing guidelines further make sure that courts are consistent when judging certain offences, allowing for clear and reliable results.

The guidelines were made to offer direction, do not state how long a sentence must be and can be strayed from when necessary.

The first phase will work on guidance for sentencing a short list of offences, including those related to drugs, bladed articles, assaults and causing death by driving.

Later phases will include more offences until a comprehensive list of guidelines have been adopted.

The public will be consulted before sentencing guidelines are published, all of which will remain under review.

Alongside Mr Justice Wolffe, the committee will include Puisne Judge Alan Richards as deputy chairman, alongside magistrates, lawyers, police and court services representatives, and Mark Wade, the president of the Bermuda Football Association.

Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, helped shape the committee by getting support from the Criminal Justice Reform Project, jointly funded by Britain and the US, which helped several Caribbean countries to form their own guidelines.

Mr Murdoch threw his support behind the committee after sitting in on its first meeting.

He said: “It is important work and I thank all those involved for their commitment to this excellent initiative.”

Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said the committee’s work would be of “national importance”.

She added: “Every Bermudian, whether victim, defendant, family member or concerned citizen, has a stake in knowing that justice is balanced and outcomes are fair.

“Sentencing guidelines can provide that assurance while preserving judicial discretion.

“The Government fully respects judicial independence.

“The committee’s deliberations will lead this process and we stand ready to provide any necessary support.”

The Sentencing Guidelines Committee will report its progress in the new year.