Justice Secretary Alex Chalk Unveils Radical Plans to Overhaul Sentencing
Criminals sentenced to less than 12 months will no longer go to prison under new proposals announced by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk. The move aims to ease overcrowding in jails and bring about a significant change in sentencing practices.
Reducing Prison Population and Overcrowding
The current prison population stands at 88,225, which is near capacity and costing taxpayers £47,000 per year. In an effort to address this issue, the Justice Secretary plans to send low-level offenders into the community for their punishment instead of incarcerating them.
Community Sentences and Monitoring
Under the new proposals, offenders will be required to serve their sentences in the community, where they will be involved in activities such as removing graffiti and cleaning up neighborhoods. To ensure compliance, the number of GPS tags available to the court will be doubled, allowing authorities to monitor offenders closely.
Controversy and Opposition
The announcement has sparked criticism, with opponents accusing the government of being "soft on crime." Shadow Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voiced concerns about potential risks posed by releasing offenders, including sex offenders, into the community instead of locking them up.
Early Release Scheme
An early release scheme will be implemented for individuals serving sentences of less than four years. This scheme, similar to one introduced by the Labour government in 2010, will allow offenders to be released 18 days early. However, the Justice Secretary clarified that serious offenders, such as rapists and those convicted of other serious sexual offenses, will serve their entire jail terms.
Investment in Prison Estate
To support these changes, the government plans to invest £400 million in the prison estate to build 800 new cells. An additional £30 million will be allocated to purchase land for the construction of new jails. These measures aim to provide the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the changing sentencing practices.
Release of Inmates on Imprisonment for Public Protection Sentences
The new proposals also include the release of some inmates who are serving Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences beyond the length of their original sentence. This move seeks to address the issue of individuals being held in prison despite exceeding their prescribed term.
