Penal populism, sentencing councils and sentencing policy / Arie Freiberg and Karen Gelb -- Sentencing policy and practice : the evolving role of public opinion / Julian V. Roberts -- Penal scandal in New Zealand / John Pratt -- Dealing the public in : challenges for a transparent and accountable sentencing policy / David Indermaur -- Myths and misconceptions : public opinion versus public judgment about sentencing / Karen Gelb -- The Minnesota sentencing guidelines / Richard S. Frase -- The United States Sentencing Commission / Nancy Gertner -- English sentencing guidelines in their public and political context / Andrew Ashworth -- The New South Wales Sentencing Council / Alan Abadee -- The Sentencing Commission for Scotland / Neil Hutton -- The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council : incorporating community views into the sentencing process / Arie Freiberg -- A perspective on the work of the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council and its potential to promote respect and equality for women / Thérèse McCarthy -- Sentencing reform in New Zealand : a proposal to establish a sentencing council / Warren Young -- A sentencing council in South Africa / Stephan Terblanche -- A federal sentencing council for Australia / Australian Law Reform Commission -- Institutional mechanisms for incorporating the public / Neil Hutton -- Does it matter? Reflections of the effectiveness of institutionalised public participation in the development of sentencing policy / Rob Allen and Mike Hough.