Softer sentences for criminals from deprived backgrounds...
Apr 4, 2024 8:37:53 GMT
jonksy and Dogburger like this
Post by Red Rackham on Apr 4, 2024 8:37:53 GMT
Judges have been told to consider more lenient sentences for offenders from “deprived” or “difficult” backgrounds.
The Sentencing Council, the official body responsible for setting guidelines for judges and magistrates, has for the first time spelt out “mitigating” factors relating to disadvantage that courts should consider before passing sentence.
The guidelines on “difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstance” state that these factors include poverty, low educational attainment, experience of discrimination and insecure housing.
The council went ahead with the changes, which took effect on Monday, despite warnings from Alex Chalk, the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, who said the guidance was “patronising” and “inaccurate”, and risked making poor schooling and poverty excuses for offenders to commit crimes.
During the consultation, concerns were also raised that the new guidelines could lead to better-off, middle class offenders from secure homes being “unfairly disadvantaged” by being handed tougher penalties for the same offence.
It was also pointed out that many people from deprived backgrounds do not offend.
The Blue Collar Conservatives, a group founded by Esther McVey, the minister for common sense, told the council: “We believe this is extremely patronising, not least to law-abiding working class communities.
“Often it is actually those who come from the poorest communities who will be the victims of the crimes in these cases. Low educational attainment and poverty are not excuses to commit crimes.”
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/03/judges-consider-softer-sentences-deprived-criminals/
Read between the lines. The sub heading should actually read: 'Softer sentences for minorities', because make no mistake, that's what's really going on here.
The Sentencing Council, the official body responsible for setting guidelines for judges and magistrates, has for the first time spelt out “mitigating” factors relating to disadvantage that courts should consider before passing sentence.
The guidelines on “difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstance” state that these factors include poverty, low educational attainment, experience of discrimination and insecure housing.
The council went ahead with the changes, which took effect on Monday, despite warnings from Alex Chalk, the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, who said the guidance was “patronising” and “inaccurate”, and risked making poor schooling and poverty excuses for offenders to commit crimes.
During the consultation, concerns were also raised that the new guidelines could lead to better-off, middle class offenders from secure homes being “unfairly disadvantaged” by being handed tougher penalties for the same offence.
It was also pointed out that many people from deprived backgrounds do not offend.
The Blue Collar Conservatives, a group founded by Esther McVey, the minister for common sense, told the council: “We believe this is extremely patronising, not least to law-abiding working class communities.
“Often it is actually those who come from the poorest communities who will be the victims of the crimes in these cases. Low educational attainment and poverty are not excuses to commit crimes.”
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/03/judges-consider-softer-sentences-deprived-criminals/
Read between the lines. The sub heading should actually read: 'Softer sentences for minorities', because make no mistake, that's what's really going on here.
...it was tongue in cheek......but saying that.....I'm trying to square that with what we have now....?