This book presents an in-depth comparative study of sentencing practice for rape in six common law jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. It provides a thorough review of the medical literature on the physical and psychological effects of rape, the legal and philosophical literature on the seriousness of the offence, and the victim's role in sentencing. Given the increasingly common practice of perpetrators using mobile and online technologies to film or photograph the commission of sexual offences, the book examines recent socio-legal research on technology-facilitated sexual violence and considers the implications for sentencing.By building on recent scholarship on judicial decision making in sentencing and case law - comprising over 250 decisions of the relevant appellate courts - the book explores and critically analyses judicial approaches to rape sentencing. The analysis is undertaken with a view to suggesting possible reforms to rape sentencing in 'non-guideline' jurisdictions. In so doing, this book seeks to establish general principles for sentencing rape, assisting in the imposition of proportionate sentences.This book will be of interest to judges and practising lawyers; to those researching criminal law, criminal justice, criminology, and gender studies; and to policy makers, including sentencing councils and commissions, in common law jurisdictions worldwide.

Of interest to criminal lawyers, particularly those with an interest in sexual offences and sentencing.

1. Sentencing Rape: An Introduction to the Study2. The Seriousness of Rape and the Victim's Role in Sentencing3. Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence and Image-Based Sexual Abuse: The Filming of Rape and Sexual Assault4. From Guidance to Guidelines: Rape Sentencing in England and Wales5. A 'Radically Different' Approach: Rape Sentencing in Scotland6. Proportionality and Individualised Justice: Rape Sentencing in the Republic of Ireland7. 'Pragmatism and Individualisation' versus 'The Mandatory Minimums Algorithm': Rape Sentencing in New Zealand and South Africa8. Principled Discretion in Rape Sentencing