# Sentencing Guidelines > Reference app for magistrates with Sentencing Council guidelines and tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Sentencing Council.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentencing-guidelines/id1089228062 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Sentencing Council](https://appshunter.io/developer/1089228061) - Category: Reference, Productivity - Price: Free - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 15.6 · 42 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2016-04-11 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentencing-guidelines/id1089228062/reviews.md ## What is Sentencing Guidelines? Download the new Sentencing guidelines reference app for iPad. This app is designed to enable magistrates to have free access to all Sentencing Council guidelines. Updated guidelines are added as they are released. Also includes additional materials and features to help when sentencing offenders in the magistrates’ courts. APP FEATURES - View offenses in portrait as well as landscape. - Browse guidelines on a single page. Scroll down to see all the content. - Keep up-to-date with the latest published guidelines added directly to the app. - More screen space devoted to displaying the guidelines, and it is easier to turn off the menus and toolbars so you can see more. - Learn the latest content changes and developments in the Updates section - Remember the page using the Bookmark feature for Offences. Bookmark offenses from the index without leaving your current page. Easier to use more than one guideline at a time. - Calculate fines for up to six offenses. Make changes at any point up to the end of the calculation process. - Highlight the guidelines to help you keep track of information as you work. - Search and navigate Offences by Offence name, Act, Section number, or generic terms - Offences are color-coded to clearly distinguish between those guidelines which are yet to come into force and those already in force. - Includes additional reference materials, such as Pronouncement Cards, Bench Books, Maps of the Courts and more ## Key features - Access all Sentencing Council guidelines - Updated guidelines added as released - Calculate fines for up to six offenses - Bookmark offenses for easy access - Search and navigate offenses by name or number - Color-coded offenses for clarity - Includes Pronouncement Cards and Bench Books ## Recent user reviews (10 of 16) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentencing-guidelines/id1089228062/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Search Function Poor *2024-10-23, version 2.6.7* The search function keeps causing the App to crash. Reported it a few weeks ago but it still crashes. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work after upgrade *2023-05-31, version 2.6.0* After the recent upgrade, the app does not work at all. Please fix it as it is essential for court work ### 5/5 — Sentencing Guidelines app *2020-12-09, version 2.4.7* I use this app all the time in Court and find it easy to use. Improvements with bookmarks and other features has made it much more user friendly and intuitive. I would recommend it to other Magistrates and Court users. ### 1/5 — An awful app *2019-12-17, version 2.4.0* If I could give this less than 1 star, I would. Poorly written, no support, clunky to use, slow, poor search facilities, often incomplete guidelines compared to Ambay. Just reeks of the SGC awarding the build to the lowest bidder. No surprises there then! ### 5/5 — Love it *2019-10-25, version 2.3.1* It’s exactly as you see if you go online. Quick easy and user friendly. No complaints ### 1/5 — Not very good *2019-10-19, version 2.3.1* The paid for app is night and day better. Search Magistrate in the App Store and use CourtManager ### 1/5 — If I had a choice, I’d use something else *2019-10-04, version 2.3.1* Sorry to say this remains a poor comparator to the Ambay app. Bookmarks still don’t persist, the layout often looks crowded on an iPad screen, and the titling of offences often doesn’t match the way they are listed in court. As this is now the only available app, it needs urgent work to make it truly fit for purpose. As other contributors have suggested, maybe some input from an actual end user or two might be the answer! ### 1/5 — Not fit for purpose *2019-09-19, version 2.3.0* Ambay showed the way in producing a user-friendly app; this is the exact opposite. Yes, (most) of the information is there somewhere but js often difficult to find, making it frustrating for use in court. Speak to magustrates, get their detailed feedback and then redesign! ### 1/5 — Useless *2019-03-25, version 2.2.2* I had used the Ambay App almost since its conception (when it was free!). It has been brilliant and always up to date - more so than the Court ipads. Sadly, as my subscription ran out in February and cannot be renewed, I now have to resort to the HMCTS version. I can now no longer mark offence page numbers for quick reference on my Court day list or create a 'favourites' list. Therefore there are inevitable, frustrating delays. I could, but dare not, say more!! ### 1/5 — Not fit for purpose *2019-01-23, version 2.2.0* These guidelines are suppose to support Magistrates in Court. The index is totally worthless, if one is dealing with a house burglary why search dwelling house, all burglaries should be under one heading with a breakdown of ‘types’ following, similarly with theft offences. The fines calculator is confusing and why do you have to go to another page to add additional fines. The commercial offering was by far a superior product which people were prepared to pay for. Why withdraw access to the pdf pages? The old bench book was of more use. ## Frequently asked questions about Sentencing Guidelines ### What devices is Sentencing Guidelines compatible with? Sentencing Guidelines is currently only available for iPad devices. This ensures a tailored experience for users on Apple's tablet platform. ### How often are the guidelines in Sentencing Guidelines updated? The app is updated with the latest published guidelines as they are released by the Sentencing Council. The last update was on June 9, 2025, indicating a commitment to keeping the content current. ### Can I use Sentencing Guidelines to calculate fines for multiple offenses? Yes, Sentencing Guidelines allows you to calculate fines for up to six offenses. You can make changes at any point up to the end of the calculation process. ### Does Sentencing Guidelines have ads? No, Sentencing Guidelines does not contain advertisements. The app is designed to provide an uninterrupted reference experience for its users. ### How can I easily find specific offenses within the app? You can search and navigate offenses by Offence name, Act, Section number, or generic terms. The offenses are also color-coded to distinguish between guidelines that are yet to come into force and those already in force. ### What additional reference materials are included in Sentencing Guidelines? In addition to the core guidelines, the app includes supplementary materials such as Pronouncement Cards, Bench Books, and Maps of the Courts, providing a comprehensive resource for magistrates. ### What is the age rating for Sentencing Guidelines? Sentencing Guidelines has an age rating of 9+. This indicates that the content is generally suitable for users aged 9 and above. ### How does the bookmark feature work in Sentencing Guidelines? The bookmark feature allows you to save specific offenses from the index without leaving your current page. This makes it easier to reference multiple guidelines simultaneously during sentencing. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2.7.1 — 2025-06-09 - Equal Treatment Bench Book (May 2025 Updated) ### 2.7.0 — 2025-02-18 - Date format for drive drive calculator changed to dd/mm/yyy ### 2.6.8 — 2025-02-15 - Calculator now has dynamics input field updates - Calculator now has the maximum sentence dropdown ### 2.6.7 — 2024-09-22 - Updated prosecution cost ### 2.6.6 — 2024-08-04 - Updated Equal Treatment Bench Book ## Apps similar to Sentencing Guidelines | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Quran Explorer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quran-explorer/id451133186) | 4.8 (50,149) | Free | Reference | | [Otsego NY Sheriff's Office](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/otsego-ny-sheriffs-office/id1514669422) | — | Free | Reference | | [FootBook](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/footbook/id455553678) | 4.1 (21) | $6.99 | Reference | | [Stamp ID Pro™: Collect Stamps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stamp-id-pro-collect-stamps/id1446933536) | 4.4 (298) | Free | Reference | | [US Laws, State Law Library](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/us-laws-state-law-library/id1340484915) | 3.1 (63) | Free | Reference | | [Chambers Thesaurus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chambers-thesaurus/id342112144) | 4.9 (9) | $4.99 | Reference | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*