Criminals including sex offenders could be released from prison early
Criminals could be released from prison after serving a third of their sentence to free up space in overcrowded jails. It's part of a series of measures the former Conservative justice secretary, David Gauke, will recommend to the Government on Thursday. The proposals aim to reduce the prison population by 9,500 people as jails battle an overcrowding crisis.
The government is not expected to adopt all of the recommendations from the review. The current justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is expected to lay out the government's initial response to the review in Parliament on Thursday. The review was expected to bring backlash from Conservatives and the right-wing Reform Party.
Violent criminals could be let out early for good behaviour under new proposals
Violent criminals could be released early and a chemical castration pilot expanded after review. The Independent Sentencing Review also recommends that more offenders are managed in the community instead of serving custodial sentences. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to respond to the review on behalf of the government in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Inspectors report on the conditions at HMP Ranby in Nottinghamshire found many inmates are living in 'dilapidated' and dirty buildings, with damaged facilities, graffiti, and mould. Almost a quarter of inmates developed a drug or alcohol problem while in the prison, and 61% of them said it was easy to get drugs. However, the report notes positive practice within the …
Government to press ahead with shorter prison sentence plans
Prisoners will be eligible for release after serving a third of their sentence. Most serious offenders will not be able to be released early. The prison population is rising by 3,000 each year. The government wants to build three new prisons before the end of 2025.
David Gauke's sentencing policy review was commissioned by the government to reduce the prison population by 9,800 people by 2028. The key proposal is a "progression model" which would see offenders who behave well in jail only serve a third of their term in custody, before being released. It will apply to people serving standard determinate sentences. Sex offenders and …
UK considers mandatory chemical castration for sex offenders
Britain is considering making chemical castration mandatory for certain sex offenders to help lower reoffending rates and alleviate overcrowding in prisons. The proposal would build on a pilot scheme launched in 2022 in prisons in southwest England, where libido-suppressing medication is offered on a voluntary basis.
Judges and magistrates in England and Wales will be told to move away from short custodial sentences in favour of community-based alternatives in a sentencing review to be announced on Thursday. David Gauke, the former Tory justice secretary, will call for suspended sentences of up to three years instead of the current two. Magistrates should be encouraged to defer sentencing …