Judges will have their freedom to set jail terms restricted and instead will be required to follow a sentencing “grid” drawn up by an independent commission, according to Government proposals.

 

The plans, which were revealed in the draft Queen’s Speech published this week, are designed to take the pressure off the overcrowded prison system. Under the scheme, judges would enter data, including information about prison resources, into a matrix which would then produce upper and lower tariffs.

 

Who should decide how criminals are punished? Is the judge, who has heard all the evidence at the trial, best placed to decide an offender’s fate?

 

Would tighter restrictions on judges standardise the tariffs awarded for any given crime?

 

Is it appropriate to take prison capacity into account when deciding how long criminals should serve?

 

Do you think that members of the public should have some input in deciding sentences?

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

 

I get very disturbed when I see things like this tbh... A fair and Just Justice system is one that is 100% independant of Govt... Judges should be the only ones to set the tariffs, end of story, only they really know the full facts of any individual case... Okay, sometimes they get it wrong, but given the alternatives (which is a Police State and Fascist Regime like China or Iran...), I think I'll take the system we have with the independance of Judges assured and people are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, despite the warts....

 

 

"Is it appropriate to take prison capacity into account when deciding how long criminals should serve?"

 

Well, I dont think Judges can be 'blamed' for this one at all... I do believe John Reid, when he was Home Sec, sent round a letter from the Home Office asking Judges to "use their discretion" on this matter..... How can it be the fault of Judges if these tossers in Whitehall aint building enough prisons to house a lot of people who I'm sure Judges would like to send down....