Criminals Who Skip Sentencing Face Solitary Confinement or Loss of Social Visits
BBC News reports that judges in England and Wales will soon have stronger powers to deal with offenders who skip sentencing. These measures include:
- Solitary Confinement: Offenders could be confined to their cells for up to three weeks.
- Loss of Social Visits: Social visits may be banned for nearly a month, and any prison privileges could be revoked for longer periods.
- Restricted Visits: Judges can limit social visits to once every four weeks for almost three months for certain offenders. However, visits from prisoners' children are exempt.
This comes after an existing law that orders criminals to attend sentencing or face fines or additional jail time for contempt of court. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) aims to push killers to attend court, acknowledging that longer jail time alone may not deter those already incarcerated.
Pia Sinha, CEO of Prison Reform Trust, raises concerns about the impact on relatives of prisoners, warning that the measures may punish innocent family members. Families of victims like Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena, and Jan Mustafa, whose killers did not attend sentencing, have previously advocated for changes.
Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, praises the announcement as a result of victims' families' efforts, emphasizing the need for consistent use of these powers to provide the justice and accountability families deserve.