8th August 2025
The Universities of Glasgow and Surrey are hosting an expert roundtable, “What Works and What Could Work Better: International Lessons on Sentencing Guidelines.”
The event will take place on Friday 8th of August 2025, 2:00pm-3:30pm. The roundtable is a hybrid event. The in-person option will be held at the University of Glasgow.
The event will feature keynote presentations from Prof Brent Newton and Prof Melissa Hamilton, who will critically examine developments in the USA to offer insights into key issues, such as the use of imprisonment and effective sentencing. By reflecting on both successes and ongoing challenges within the American context, the speakers will highlight lessons that are relevant internationally, sparking important discussions on how to balance public safety with fairness and proportionality in sentencing decisions. The presentation will not only explore innovative practices but will also interrogate areas where reform efforts have fallen short, providing a nuanced perspective that emphasizes adaptability to different legal systems and societal contexts.
If you wish to attend the event either in person or online, register your interest here:
Spaces may not be available to all who wish to participate in person.
Prof Newton bio
Since 2021, Brent E. Newton has been a practitioner in residence at Penn State-Dickinson Law in Pennsylvania. He previously was a lecturer, adjunct law professor, or visiting law professor at several other universities. After graduating from Columbia University School of Law in 1992, Professor Newton served for one year as a law clerk for Judge Carolyn King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He thereafter worked as a public defender for 16 years. In 2009, Professor Newton was appointed as deputy director of the United States Sentencing Commission in Washington, D.C., a position that he held until January 2019. From February 2019 until the present, in addition to his academic duties, Professor Newton has practiced civil, criminal, and immigration law. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute.
Prof Hamilton bio
Melissa Hamilton is a Professor of Law & Criminal Justice at the University of Surrey and a Surrey AI Fellow. Research interests include issues related to algorithmic justice, AI in policing, sentencing practices, and corrections policies. Prior to taking up her academic posts, she worked as a police officer and corrections officer, clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and practiced law as in-house counsel for multinational technology companies. She has a JD in Law and a PhD in Criminology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr Gormley bio
Jay Gormley is a law and criminal justice researcher specialising in empirical research and sentencing at the University of Glasgow. He is a Member of the Scottish Sentencing Council and an Adviser to the Sentencing Academy. He has worked with multiple guideline-creating bodies and key policymakers in Scotland, England and Wales, and Ireland.