Letter: Implications of new Criminal Justice Act
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your otherwise excellent article 'Judges to be told of race bias risk' (21 September) incorrectly states that some penal reform groups 'such as Nacro' predict that the prison population will rise after the Criminal Justice Act 1991 is implemented next month.
This is not Nacro's view. The act contains the tightest legislative restrictions ever imposed on the use of custodial sentences. It empowers courts to pass combinations of community sentences that should provide a credible option for many offenders who were previously imprisoned. The new means-related 'unit fine' system should mean lower fines for poorer offenders, thereby reducing imprisonment for fine defaults.
The act's requirements for mandatory pre-sentence reports gives the probation service an opportunity to persuade courts of the desirability of community sentences in cases where prison sentences would now be passed. All these provisions should help to achieve a lower use of custody.
It is true, however, that the act's recasting of the parole system taken on its own would increase the prison population by up to 1,400 if there were no compensating reduction in sentence lengths. We have certainly expressed concern about this aspect of the act, which could reduce the beneficial impact on the prison population of its other provisions.
A clear lead from the Court of Appeal in the direction of shorter sentences is therefore needed if the act is to fulfil its full potential to reduce the use of imprisonment.
Yours faithfully,
VIVIEN STERN
Director
National Association for the Care
and Resettlement of Offenders
London, SW9
23 September
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments