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Move to overhaul sentencing rules Move to overhaul sentencing rules
(about 2 hours later)
Judges in England and Wales could be given greater discretion to decide the sentence tariffs for potentially dangerous criminals.Judges in England and Wales could be given greater discretion to decide the sentence tariffs for potentially dangerous criminals.
The Home Office is also expected to suggest ways to make sentencing guidelines clearer to the public.The Home Office is also expected to suggest ways to make sentencing guidelines clearer to the public.
It follows anger over the case of Craig Sweeney, who was told he could be released after five years of a life sentence for kidnap and sexual assault.It follows anger over the case of Craig Sweeney, who was told he could be released after five years of a life sentence for kidnap and sexual assault.
A consultation document suggesting an overhaul is being published.A consultation document suggesting an overhaul is being published.
Sentence discountSentence discount
Under rules introduced two years ago by then Home Secretary David Blunkett, non-violent offenders are automatically freed halfway through their sentences, to be supervised in the community by probation officers.Under rules introduced two years ago by then Home Secretary David Blunkett, non-violent offenders are automatically freed halfway through their sentences, to be supervised in the community by probation officers.
For those sentenced to life terms - apart from in murder cases - the "tariff" of time they must actually serve is arrived at by halving the equivalent determinate sentence.For those sentenced to life terms - apart from in murder cases - the "tariff" of time they must actually serve is arrived at by halving the equivalent determinate sentence.
Judges should have discretion over how much discount to give for a guilty plea Paul Cavadino,Nacro href="/1/hi/england/manchester/6130566.stm" class="">Killer sentence 'too lenient' Cases behind sentencing row In the Sweeney case, the 24-year-old offender - who kidnapped his child victim from her home in Rumney, Cardiff, in January - was given a sentence discount of one third for entering an early guilty plea. Judges should have discretion over how much discount to give for a guilty plea Paul Cavadino,Nacro href="/1/hi/wales/6126672.stm" class="">Father's sentence anger Cases behind sentencing row In the Sweeney case, the 24-year-old offender - who kidnapped his child victim from her home in Rumney, Cardiff, in January - was given a sentence discount of one third for entering an early guilty plea.
His prison licence period for an attack on another child had run out just weeks before.His prison licence period for an attack on another child had run out just weeks before.
His minimum tariff was set in accordance with Home Office rules.His minimum tariff was set in accordance with Home Office rules.
Following the case, Home Secretary John Reid pledged to examine whether judges should be given the power to dictate that serious offenders should serve longer in jail than the current guidelines allowed.Following the case, Home Secretary John Reid pledged to examine whether judges should be given the power to dictate that serious offenders should serve longer in jail than the current guidelines allowed.
Tom and Gwen Geeling, the parents of murdered 11-year-old schoolboy Joe who suffered with cystic fibrosis, have claimed their son's teenage killer's 12-year jail term was lenient.
'Major reform''Major reform'
BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the Home Office believes judges should no longer be required to apply the halving principle.BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the Home Office believes judges should no longer be required to apply the halving principle.
He says ministers also want to give courts greater powers to keep non-violent offenders in jail beyond the halfway point of their sentences if they might pose a risk to the public.He says ministers also want to give courts greater powers to keep non-violent offenders in jail beyond the halfway point of their sentences if they might pose a risk to the public.
And the rules giving offenders who plead guilty early a third off their sentences are also being re-examined.And the rules giving offenders who plead guilty early a third off their sentences are also being re-examined.
Our correspondent says the proposals will mean "major reform" of the Criminal Justice Act, which came into force just 18 months ago.Our correspondent says the proposals will mean "major reform" of the Criminal Justice Act, which came into force just 18 months ago.
With the prison population being as over-crowded as it is, I think judges will look to that as being the over-riding factor Norman Brennan,Victims of Crime Trust With the prison population being as over-crowded as it is, I think judges will look to that as being the over-riding factor Norman Brennan,Victims of Crime Trust href="/1/hi/england/manchester/6130566.stm" class="">Killer's term 'too lenient'
Speaking before Thursday's announcement, Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro, said: "Judges should have discretion over how much discount to give for a guilty plea."Speaking before Thursday's announcement, Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro, said: "Judges should have discretion over how much discount to give for a guilty plea."
But he said offenders who pleaded guilty early should continue to receive a greater discount than those who admitted their guilt at the 11th hour.But he said offenders who pleaded guilty early should continue to receive a greater discount than those who admitted their guilt at the 11th hour.
And he said automatic release under supervision after half of the sentence should be retained for the majority of prisoners.
Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "When someone has been sentenced to long-term imprisonment for committing a serious crime, it is these types of criminal that the public needs protecting from most.Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "When someone has been sentenced to long-term imprisonment for committing a serious crime, it is these types of criminal that the public needs protecting from most.
"However with the judiciary being as liberal as they are I doubt very much whether many judges will overrule the automatic early release of prisoners."However with the judiciary being as liberal as they are I doubt very much whether many judges will overrule the automatic early release of prisoners.
"With the prison population being as over-crowded as it is, I think judges will look to that as being the over-riding factor." Frances Crook, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said her organisation wanted to see complete reform of life sentencing rather than "tinkering around with it".