Prisoners to no longer qualify for automatic release at two thirds of sentence
6 years, 10 months ago

Prisoners to no longer qualify for automatic release at two thirds of sentence

Dutch News  

Prisoners who have been sentenced to more than six years in jail will no longer be automatically released on completion of two thirds of their sentence, according to a new draft law drawn up by justice minister Sander Dekker. Instead each case will be judged on its merits, taking into account prisoners’ behaviour, and no-one will be released early more than two years before the end of their sentence, the draft legislation states. ‘A period of two years should be enough for everybody.’ The proposal is meant as a gesture towards the victims of serious crimes. ‘People who are given long sentences have committed serious crimes and it is difficult to justify to the victims that the perpetrators of those crimes are released after completing only two thirds of the sentence,’ Dekker said.

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History of this topic

Criminals handed longer sentences 'will be let out of prison early to make room in jails'
2 days, 4 hours ago

Criminals handed longer sentences 'will be let out of prison early to make room in jails'

Daily Mail  

Criminals handed long sentences for serious offences will have to be let out of prison early to make room in the jails, the Justice Secretary has signalled. ‘We are filling prison spaces as fast as we can build them, and we know already we cannot build our way out of this crisis.’ The Justice Secretary’s comments raised the prospect of …

The government needs to help prisoners serving indefinite jail terms – not prolong their suffering
Trending News
3 months ago

The government needs to help prisoners serving indefinite jail terms – not prolong their suffering

The Independent  

The government has blocked 128 inmates trapped by cruel indefinite jail terms from moving to open prisons in the past year. This is only the latest injustice suffered by prisoners who are still serving indefinite sentences 12 years after imprisonment for public protection jail terms were abolished in 2012. After an adverse ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, …

If our prisons are at breaking point, why are prisoners sentenced to one year still there 19 years later?
5 months, 1 week ago

If our prisons are at breaking point, why are prisoners sentenced to one year still there 19 years later?

The Independent  

When any royal visits a prison, the governor inevitably chooses only the most trusted residents to take part in any meet-and-greet. James Lawrence, handed an eight-month minimum tariff in 2006 by a judge as part of an IPP sentence for threatening someone with an imitation pistol, is still inside more than 18 years later. But that doesn’t mean that I …

IPP sentence: Top judge demands help for prisoners ‘left to rot’ under ‘morally wrong’ indefinite jail terms
5 months, 1 week ago

IPP sentence: Top judge demands help for prisoners ‘left to rot’ under ‘morally wrong’ indefinite jail terms

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain’s former top judge has …

Britain faced ‘total breakdown of law and order’ without early release of prisoners, minister claims
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Britain faced ‘total breakdown of law and order’ without early release of prisoners, minister claims

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain faced a “total breakdown …

Britain's soft justice scandal: Career criminals with more than 100 previous convictions are being SPARED jail - with the number almost tripling in 16 years as the nation's overcrowded prisons reach '
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Britain's soft justice scandal: Career criminals with more than 100 previous convictions are being SPARED jail - with the number almost tripling in 16 years as the nation's overcrowded prisons reach '

Daily Mail  

Hardened criminals with more than 100 previous convictions are being spared jail as Britain's overcrowded prisons reach 'breaking point'. HMP Wandsworth is one of the most overcrowded prisons in the country, running at more than 150% capacity Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a series of measures designed to ease overcrowding in jails and avert a 'total breakdown of law and …

Labour reveals 5,500 prisoners will be freed early amid overcrowding in jails
8 months, 1 week ago

Labour reveals 5,500 prisoners will be freed early amid overcrowding in jails

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of prisoners will be released early in a bid …

Prisoners to serve shorter sentences until 2026 to avert ‘total breakdown of law and order’
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Prisoners to serve shorter sentences until 2026 to avert ‘total breakdown of law and order’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery There are just a few hundred prison spaces left in …

Prisoners in Scotland could be released after serving two thirds of sentence
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Prisoners in Scotland could be released after serving two thirds of sentence

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Long-term prisoners in Scotland could …

New head of prisons’ union Tom Wheatley calls for urgent review of indefinite sentences
11 months ago

New head of prisons’ union Tom Wheatley calls for urgent review of indefinite sentences

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The new chief of the prison governors’ union has questioned …

Prisoners could be released 60 days early under move to ease overcrowding
1 year ago

Prisoners could be released 60 days early under move to ease overcrowding

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We will also extend the existing end of custody supervised licence measure to around …

Postponing sentences to relieve prisons "undermines justice"
1 year, 3 months ago

Postponing sentences to relieve prisons "undermines justice"

Dutch News  

Plans to ease pressure on prisons by postponing hundreds of sentences for newly convicted criminals risk undermining the justice system, the council for the judiciary has warned. The chairman of the Raad voor de rechtspraak, Henk Naves, criticised legal protection minister Franc Weerwind for changing the guidelines in the face of staff shortages. Weerwind responded by delaying sentences for around …

Postponing sentences to relieve prisons "undermines justice"
1 year, 3 months ago

Postponing sentences to relieve prisons "undermines justice"

Dutch News  

Plans to ease pressure on prisons by postponing hundreds of sentences for newly convicted criminals risk undermining the justice system, the council for the judiciary has warned. The chairman of the Raad voor de rechtspraak, Henk Naves, criticised legal protection minister Franc Weerwind for changing the guidelines in the face of staff shortages. Weerwind responded by delaying sentences for around …

Government blasted for refusing to resentence inmates trapped in jail under IPP sentences
1 year, 4 months ago

Government blasted for refusing to resentence inmates trapped in jail under IPP sentences

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But families whose loved ones …

Low-level offenders to be spared jail to free up space in overcrowded prisons
1 year, 5 months ago

Low-level offenders to be spared jail to free up space in overcrowded prisons

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Mr Chalk accepted that the custodial system was “under …

Prison sentences under a year to be scrapped for most criminals
1 year, 5 months ago

Prison sentences under a year to be scrapped for most criminals

The Telegraph  

Prison sentences of less than a year will be scrapped for most criminals under government plans to tackle the prison overcrowding crisis. Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, announced on Monday there will be a new legal presumption that offenders facing jail sentences of under 12 months will instead be “punished” in the community by doing unpaid work such as “cleaning …

‘Inevitable’ prison spaces will run out as judges ‘delay sentencings’ to avoid overwhelming system
1 year, 5 months ago

‘Inevitable’ prison spaces will run out as judges ‘delay sentencings’ to avoid overwhelming system

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But the Prison Governors Association told The Independent it believed “without a shadow of …

PIL In Patna HC Challenges State Govt’s Move To Amend Rule Under Prison Manual Concerning Early Release Of Life Convicts
1 year, 11 months ago

PIL In Patna HC Challenges State Govt’s Move To Amend Rule Under Prison Manual Concerning Early Release Of Life Convicts

Live Law  

A Public Interest Litigation plea has been moved before the Patna High Court seeking to quash a circular issued by the Home Department, Bihar Government, on April 10, amending Rule 481 of Bihar Prison Manual, 2012 which deals with the early release of convicts serving life imprisonment. For context, the said rule forbade, among other things, the early release of …

Report urges capping U.S. prison sentences at 20 years to end mass incarceration
2 years, 1 month ago

Report urges capping U.S. prison sentences at 20 years to end mass incarceration

Salon  

This article originally appeared at Common Dreams. Liz Komar, sentencing reform counsel at the Sentencing Project and co-author of the report, said in a statement that "to end mass incarceration, the U.S. must dramatically shorten sentences. Sentencing Project co-director of research Ashley Nellis, who also authored the new report, said that "in large part due to long prison sentences, we …

Release all life convicts after 10 years in jail unless …: Supreme Court
2 years, 6 months ago

Release all life convicts after 10 years in jail unless …: Supreme Court

India Today  

All convicts who have served 10 years of their life sentence and have appeals pending before courts must be granted bail unless there are reasons to deny it, the Supreme Court said as it looks to decongest the overcrowding in jails. A division bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay Shreeniwas Oka was hearing a batch of petitions of …

Policy For Premature Release Of Life Convicts Must Be Implemented In Objective & Transparent Manner : Supreme Court
2 years, 6 months ago

Policy For Premature Release Of Life Convicts Must Be Implemented In Objective & Transparent Manner : Supreme Court

Live Law  

In a recent order, the Supreme Court stressed that the State must implement its policy for premature release of life convicts in an objective and transparent manner. Noting that several convicts languish in jail despite serving long sentences due to inability to access legal resources to apply for remission, the Court stated that the State must consider the cases of …

Remission without reform: On the release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case
2 years, 7 months ago

Remission without reform: On the release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case

The Hindu  

The release of 11 convicts sentenced to life for the heinous murder of seven people and the gang-rape of three women during the Gujarat communal pogrom of 2002 is a questionable decision by the State. It defies logic that those convicted for direct involvement in the rape of three women, the murder of a three-year-old and six others can be …

What Is The Need Of Trial If You Are Putting People In Jail For Years? Supreme Court Asks NCB
3 years, 5 months ago

What Is The Need Of Trial If You Are Putting People In Jail For Years? Supreme Court Asks NCB

Live Law  

"What is the need of trial if you are putting people in jail for years? ", the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Narcotics Control Bureau, while hearing the bail application of a 66 year old man accused under the NDPS Act who has suffered incarceration for around 4 years.A Bench comprising CJI NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice …

Premature Release - UP Govt.'s Policy To Release Prisoners Only On Republic Day Arbitrary:Supreme Asks Govt To Consider All Eligible Persons Regardless Of Application
3 years, 10 months ago

Premature Release - UP Govt.'s Policy To Release Prisoners Only On Republic Day Arbitrary:Supreme Asks Govt To Consider All Eligible Persons Regardless Of Application

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on May 4 told the state of UP to not deem as ineligible for consideration for premature release those life convicts who have not specifically applied for the relief, and obligated the state government to conduct periodical assessments to identify those who are so entitled. "Under Article 32 of the Constitution, this court has been passing orders …

SC Orders Release of Prisoners to Decongest Jails Amid Covid-19 Second Wave
3 years, 10 months ago

SC Orders Release of Prisoners to Decongest Jails Amid Covid-19 Second Wave

News 18  

Taking note of an “unprecedented surge” in Covid-19 cases in the country, the Supreme Court on Saturday passed directions for decongestion of prisons and ordered forthwith release of all those prisoners who were granted bail or parole last year in view of the pandemic. A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Surya Kant …

Government to increase prison sentences after minister says longer terms have ‘limited or no deterrent effect’ on crime
4 years ago

Government to increase prison sentences after minister says longer terms have ‘limited or no deterrent effect’ on crime

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government has claimed a raft of laws to increase …

Length Of Sentence Or Gravity Of Original Crime Cannot Be Sole Basis For Refusing Premature Release: SC [Read Judgment]
4 years, 5 months ago

Length Of Sentence Or Gravity Of Original Crime Cannot Be Sole Basis For Refusing Premature Release: SC [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

Length of the sentence or the gravity of the original crime can't be the sole basis for refusing premature release, the Supreme Court observed while directing release of two convicts on probation.The Three Judge Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana observed that any assessment regarding predilection to commit crime upon release must be based on antecedents as well as conduct …

Sentencing White Paper: Government unveils plans to keep offenders in prisons for longer after warning jails are running out of space
4 years, 6 months ago

Sentencing White Paper: Government unveils plans to keep offenders in prisons for longer after warning jails are running out of space

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The new sentencing white paper proposes changes that would force sexual and violent criminals …

Innocent people being held in prison for months without trial because of ‘underfunded justice system’, campaigners say
4 years, 6 months ago

Innocent people being held in prison for months without trial because of ‘underfunded justice system’, campaigners say

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Innocent people are being held for months in prison awaiting their trials, ignored by …

Amnesty scheme for aged prisoners sought
4 years, 11 months ago

Amnesty scheme for aged prisoners sought

The Hindu  

With the amnesty scheme for prisoners failing to decongest the three central jails, the Prisons Department has approached the State to extent the scheme to the aged inmates and other categories. Besides the scheme devised by the Supreme Court for decongesting the jails, the department, in consultation with the State government had released prisoners in batches for up to 45 …

COVID-19: Jails Release Inmates; Battle Overcrowding, Less Doctors
5 years ago

COVID-19: Jails Release Inmates; Battle Overcrowding, Less Doctors

The Quint  

As Tihar Jail, the country’s largest prison, announced plans on 23 March 2020, to release on parole or interim bail some 3,000 inmates who are not “hardened criminals”, other prisons in the country may follow, having been directed by the Supreme Court to determine which categories of prisoners could be temporarily released to control the spread of COVID-19. On 16 …

Boris Johnson seeks to keep ‘dangerous criminals’ in jail for longer with sentencing review
5 years, 7 months ago

Boris Johnson seeks to keep ‘dangerous criminals’ in jail for longer with sentencing review

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Boris Johnson is seeking to end the automatic release of …

Short prison sentences of six months or less should be abolished, justice secretary says
6 years, 1 month ago

Short prison sentences of six months or less should be abolished, justice secretary says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Prison sentences of six months or less should be abolished …

Stop adding to prisoners’ sentences when they break rules, ministers told
6 years, 7 months ago

Stop adding to prisoners’ sentences when they break rules, ministers told

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Howard League for Penal Reform warns that an “explosion” in the use of …

Rory Stewart: Jail terms of less than a year should be SCRAPPED
6 years, 9 months ago

Rory Stewart: Jail terms of less than a year should be SCRAPPED

Daily Mail  

Prison sentences of less than a year should be scrapped for all but the most serious offences, a justice minister has said. Despite insisting custodial sentences could still be given to violent and sexual offenders, Mr Stewart said he wanted to ‘significantly reduce, if not eliminate’ jail terms of under 12 months. If you stop handing out short sentences it …

Prisoners to no longer qualify for automatic release at two thirds of sentence
6 years, 10 months ago

Prisoners to no longer qualify for automatic release at two thirds of sentence

Dutch News  

Prisoners who have been sentenced to more than six years in jail will no longer be automatically released on completion of two thirds of their sentence, according to a new draft law drawn up by justice minister Sander Dekker. Instead each case will be judged on its merits, taking into account prisoners’ behaviour, and no-one will be released early more …

Abolish time limits on prison sentences to stop criminals dodging justice, says MP
7 years, 4 months ago

Abolish time limits on prison sentences to stop criminals dodging justice, says MP

Dutch News  

An MP has called for ‘use by’ dates on prison sentences to be abolished to stop convicted criminals evading justice by disappearing underground for several years. At the moment sentences for most offences lapse if they are not served within three years, but jail terms of eight years or longer can be started up to 20 years later and for …

Abolish time limits on prison sentences to stop criminals dodging justice, says MP
7 years, 4 months ago

Abolish time limits on prison sentences to stop criminals dodging justice, says MP

Dutch News  

An MP has called for ‘use by’ dates on prison sentences to be abolished to stop convicted criminals evading justice by disappearing underground for several years. At the moment sentences for most offences lapse if they are not served within three years, but jail terms of eight years or longer can be started up to 20 years later and for …

Period Undergone By A Convict While He Was In Detention As Under Trial Could Be Set Off Under Section 428 CrPC: SC [Read Judgment]
7 years, 4 months ago

Period Undergone By A Convict While He Was In Detention As Under Trial Could Be Set Off Under Section 428 CrPC: SC [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

In State of UP Vs. Tribhuwan, the Supreme Court has held that period already undergone by a convict while he was in detention, as under-trial and as convict, could be treated as jail sentence once awarded to him and its benefit by way of set off could be given to him under Section 428 of Code.The state had, before the …

Period Undergone By A Convict While He Was In Detention As Under Trial Could Be Set Off Under Section 428 CrPC: SC [Read Judgment]
7 years, 4 months ago

Period Undergone By A Convict While He Was In Detention As Under Trial Could Be Set Off Under Section 428 CrPC: SC [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

In State of UP Vs. Tribhuwan, the Supreme Court has held that period already undergone by a convict while he was in detention, as under-trial and as convict, could be treated as jail sentence once awarded to him and its benefit by way of set off could be given to him under Section 428 of Code.The state had, before the …

Netherlands tightens rules around releasing foreign prisoners
7 years, 8 months ago

Netherlands tightens rules around releasing foreign prisoners

NL Times  

The Netherlands is tightening the rules and regulations around early release and sentence interruption for foreign prisoners as of January 1st, State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice wrote to parliament on Tuesday, AD reports. Dijkhoff wants the new rules to prevent a repeat of an incident four years ago, in which a Polish man was released from prison …

Life prisoner goes to court in campaign for early release
8 years, 8 months ago

Life prisoner goes to court in campaign for early release

Dutch News  

A man who is serving a life-long prison sentence in a Dutch jail is going to court on Wednesday in an effort to begin to prepare to return to society. Justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff is planning to offer people with a life sentence a reintegration programme after 25 years. The move follows criticism from the European Court of Human Rights, …

Life prisoner goes to court in campaign for early release
8 years, 8 months ago

Life prisoner goes to court in campaign for early release

Dutch News  

A man who is serving a life-long prison sentence in a Dutch jail is going to court on Wednesday in an effort to begin to prepare to return to society. Justice minister Klaas Dijkhoff is planning to offer people with a life sentence a reintegration programme after 25 years. The move follows criticism from the European Court of Human Rights, …

Supreme Court orders prisoners to be freed over trial delays
10 years, 6 months ago

Supreme Court orders prisoners to be freed over trial delays

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the country’s notoriously overcrowded jails to free all inmates who have served half their maximum term without trial, in a landmark ruling with potential implications for hundreds of thousands of prisoners. India’s criminal procedure code already states that prisoners in pre-trial detention must be released once they have served half the maximum …

Senior judges criticise plans to keep people in jail pending appeal
11 years, 3 months ago

Senior judges criticise plans to keep people in jail pending appeal

Dutch News  

People convicted of crimes with a sentence of at least one year should be allowed to wait for the results of their appeal in freedom, according to senior judges. The council for the judiciary has issued its formal recommendations on the government’s plans to jail people found guilty of a crime by the lower courts immediately, saying there is a …

Senior judges criticise plans to keep people in jail pending appeal
11 years, 3 months ago

Senior judges criticise plans to keep people in jail pending appeal

Dutch News  

People convicted of crimes with a sentence of at least one year should be allowed to wait for the results of their appeal in freedom, according to senior judges. The council for the judiciary has issued its formal recommendations on the government’s plans to jail people found guilty of a crime by the lower courts immediately, saying there is a …

Cash crisis in prisoner rehabilitation scheme adds to overcrowding
15 years, 6 months ago

Cash crisis in prisoner rehabilitation scheme adds to overcrowding

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Paul Tidball, the head of the Prison Governors Association, …

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