The Blackstone's Guide series delivers concise and accessible books covering the latest legislative changes and amendments. Published soon after enactment, they offer expert commentary on the scope, extent, and effects of the legislation accompanying a full copy of the Act itself. The Sentencing Act 2020 is the culmination of over four years' work to identify the myriad legislative provisions which form part of the sentencing process and produce a coherent consolidation which would stand as a Code, capable of being treated and developed as a single source. The purpose of the Code is to draw together a single statement of the law that stipulates what happens to an offender who is convicted of, or has pleaded guilty to, a criminal offence. This includes the general principles of sentencing law, the orders a court may or must impose as a result of an offender's plea, conviction, or breach of an existing sentence, and any related case management functions. It represents a major landmark for the criminal justice system in England and Wales. This Guide provides an essential bridge for practitioners from the previous patchwork of sentencing procedure to the new unified Code and includes valuable checklists and tables which map the previous statutory basis for all key elements of the Code to the new Act.