Burglary ‘does not deserve jail’ – The Times
“Unpaid work or a curfew could be a better way of punishing ‘less serious’ thieves, sentencing advisers recommend.”
Full story
The Times, 9th July 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Category: sentencing
Dangerous Offenders – Sentencing Guidelines Council
“On 14th July 2008, the dangerous offender provisions in the 2003 Act are amended as a result of the implementation of relevant provisions in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. The Guide for Sentencers and Practitioners issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council in September 2007 as an addendum to its Guideline Judgments Compendium has also been amended. The Guide brings together the statutory provisions and relevant case law for the assistance of both the judiciary and practitioners: it is not a Council guideline. As well as incorporating the effect of the new provisions into the text, a new Annex F reproduces sections 225-229 of the 2003 in amended form, including the new schedule 15A. A brief summary of the effect of the new provisions is also included for ease of reference.”
Dangerous Offenders – Guide for Sentencers and Practitioners (PDF)
Sentencing Guidelines Council, 9th July 2008
Source: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk
Legal Opinion: The debate on prison sentencing is now on a knife edge – The Indepdent
“The call for automatic prison sentences to combat violence on our streets has become deafening in the past few weeks. But, pleads Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, politicians mustn’t act until they have considered the evidence.”
The Independent, 9th July 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Judge jails kill threat murderer – BBC News
“A judge has jailed a murderer who 24 hours earlier had threatened to escape custody and kill him.”
BBC News, 8th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Knife crime: Jack Straw orders review of sentences for offenders – Daily Telegraph
“Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, has been forced to order a review of the penalties for carrying a knife, just weeks before rules which mean offenders could escape with just a fine come into force.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th July 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Clerk jailed for £72m bank fraud – BBC News
“A bank clerk who tried to steal almost £72m from the HSBC bank has been jailed for nine years.”
BBC News, 7th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Molseed killer to fight sentence – BBC News
“A man who murdered a schoolgirl and dumped her body on the Yorkshire moors 30 years ago is to appeal against his life sentence.”
BBC News, 7th July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Prisons: Ministers urged to scrap sentencing reform plans – The Guardian
“The government was today urged to abandon plans to introduce US-style sentencing grids to help ease prison overcrowding.”
The Guardian, 7th July 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Fraudster known as the Bogus Contessa is jailed – Daily Telegraph
“A convicted fraudster has been jailed for posing as an incredibly wealthy noblewoman to con the life-savings out of vulnerable victims.”
Daily Telegraph, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Sex camera hotel manager jailed – BBC News
“A hotel manager who set up a hidden camera in a bedroom to watch a couple having sex has been jailed.”
BBC News, 3rd July 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Judges ‘do not trust community service’ – Daily Telegraph
“Judges are sentencing criminals to prison terms because they do not believe alternative community service orders will be properly implemented, England’s most senior judge has said.”
Daily Telegraph, 2nd July 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Rehabilitation versus punishment – judge for yourself – Ministry of Justice
“An innovative online programme in which members of the public can decide what they think is the most suitable sentence for virtual offenders was launched by Justice Minister David Hanson today as a new poll shows the public think reforming offenders to cut reoffending is equally as important [sic] as punishment.”
Ministry of Justice, 1st July 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Rugby star is sentenced for GBH – BBC News
“Wigan rugby league player Iafeta Palea’aesina has been sentenced to 200 hours community service for breaking a bus driver’s jaw.”
BBC News, 30th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Suicide pact pensioner walks free – BBC News
“A man who tried to carry out a suicide pact with his wife after she was taken into care with dementia has been spared jail by a judge at the Old Bailey.”
BBC News, 30th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Judges scorn American-style sentencing to control prison overcrowding – The Times
“Plans for an American-style sentencing ‘grid’ to control prison numbers appear doomed because of overwhelming opposition from the judiciary.”
The Times, 30th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Mother jailed for abandoning son – BBC News
“A woman who left her two-year-old son alone for the weekend has been jailed for 18 months.”
BBC News, 27th June 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Couple jailed after leaving girl to die in ‘filth and squalor’ – The Guardian
“A judge today questioned a decision by prosecutors not to pursue a murder charge against a mother who left her three-year-old daughter to die from malnutrition in her bedroom.”
The Guardian, 27th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Responses to the Sentencing Commission Working Group consultation paper: A Structured Sentencing Framework and Sentencing Commission – Judiciary of England and Wales
Response on behalf of the Council of Her Majesty’s Circuit Judges (PDF) and Postscript (PDF)
Response on behalf of the Magistrates Association (Word)
Judiciary of England and Wales, 26th June 2008
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Haulier hit car while on phone – The Guardian
“A lorry driver who caused a fatal accident while talking on his Bluetooth headset was jailed yesterday for four-and-a-half years. Haulier Mervyn Richmond, 49, was so distracted during a conversation with his mother that he ploughed into a line of stationary traffic, killing father-of-two Michael Buston.”
The Guardian, 27th June 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
