The Sentencing Guidelines Committee held meetings during the week of 5 January 2026 when a delegation from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office joined local officials for a working week. The FCDO team comprised Dame Maura McGowan, a Justice of the Royal Courts of Justice, Mrs. Sirah Abraham, a Criminal Justice Advisor to the Eastern Caribbean and Mr. Robert Harper of the UK Ministry of Justice.
Over the course of the week, the UK delegation held a series of meetings, including with His Excellency the Governor Mr. Andrew Murdoch CMG, the Chief Justice Hon. Mr. Larry Mussenden, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Ms. Kim Wilkerson JP, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Cindy Clarke, the Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons, members of the criminal defence bar, members of the Department of Corrections and the Department of Court Services. They observed the monthly Arraignments session presided over by Mr. Justice Wolffe and Plea Court, Mental Health Treatment Court and Drug Treatment Court sessions all presided over by Senior Magistrate Mrs. Maxanne Anderson.
Two working sessions were held with the Sentencing Guidelines Committee, during which principles, concepts, and approaches to guideline development were discussed. The Committee resolved to focus its initial work on sentencing guidelines in both the Supreme Court and the Magistrates’ Court for offences involving possession of bladed weapons and traffic offences which involve grievous bodily harm and death, with the intention of issuing guidelines for these offences later this year.
Mr. Justice Wolffe noted that the working week accomplished significant progress in establishing a framework for sentencing guidelines and setting a priority for the more serious and prevalent offences. Dame Maura emphasized the importance of transparency and consistency in sentencing, highlighting that Bermuda’s initiative reflects international best practice.
As the Sentencing Guidelines are developed over the upcoming months and years, they will be published and available online to the participants in the criminal justice system especially defendants so that everyone can see and understand the approach to sentencing for specific offences. The Committee’s work marks an important step toward consistency, fairness, and confidence in Bermuda’s criminal justice system.”