The sentencing regime in the magistrates’ court is notoriously complex and about to change again following a government U-Turn. In May 2022, the government allowed magistrates to imprison an adult for up to 12 months for a single either-way offence; the previous maximum for a single offence was 6 months. This change was designed to…
IPP sentences were introduced to prevent serious offenders being released when still a danger to the public. They were scrapped in 2012, but nearly 3000 people remain in prison under the legislation, with almost half of these having been recalled to prison after earlier being released. The Justice Committee said in a report published in…
Any prisoner released for a period of time in the community on licence will be aware that they can be returned to custody for breaching or rather, allegedly breaching their licence conditions. When clients are recalled they often tell us that they want to “appeal” their recall. Although there is no appeal process for offenders…
Draft sentencing guidelines for sentencing retailers including large organisations and individual shop owners convicted of selling knives to children in England and Wales were published for consultation today (1 June 2022) by the Sentencing Council. There are two guidelines – one for sentencing organisations and one for sentencing individuals – which will apply to offenders…
It is exactly 1 year to the day since the first lockdown and while there have been times when parts of the Country have been released from lockdown, Manchester and the Criminal Justice system particularly, are just two seemingly life without parole prisoners. But like any model prisoner, we have tried to make the most…
