Lawyers have given a cautious welcome to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s green paper on sentencing reform
The proposals, set out in Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders, include: rewarding early admissions of guilt with up to 50% reduction in sentence; increased use of restorative justice measures; introducing reforms to make offenders directly compensate victims of crime; and simplifying the sentencing framework so that judges have more discretionary powers.
Nicholas Green QC, chairman of the Bar Council praised Clarke’s “bold and creative reform programme, which is overdue”.
Human rights group, JUSTICE welcomed the recognition that prison numbers are too high and the increased use of restorative justice.
However, Sally Ireland, director of Criminal Justice Policy, said: “The government must put its money where its mouth is on rehabilitation and support if reoffending is to be reduced.”
The consultation ends on 4 March 2011.
