The UK government has announced radical new proposals that will prevent criminals sentenced to less than 12 months from going to prison. The plans aim to address the issue of overcrowding in jails and have been met with criticism from those who argue that they are "soft on crime."
Overhauling Sentencing and Easing Overcrowding
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has unveiled the plans, which will see lower-level offenders serving their sentences in the community rather than behind bars. The UK's prison population stands at 88,225, close to capacity, and costs taxpayers £47,000 per year.
Under the new proposals, judges will have the power to send low-level criminals into the community, where they will be required to carry out tasks such as removing graffiti and cleaning up neighborhoods as part of their punishment.
Monitoring Offenders and Curbing Freedom
To ensure that offenders are held accountable and their activities are monitored, the government plans to double the number of GPS tags available to the court. This will allow for more effective tracking of offenders' movements, ensuring that they attend work and adhere to robust curfews of up to 20 hours a day.
Early Release Scheme and Investment in the Prison Estate
An early release scheme will also be introduced, allowing offenders serving sentences of less than four years to be released 18 days early. This scheme mirrors one implemented by the Labour party in 2010, which saw 50,000 offenders released before reaching the halfway point of their sentence.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk has also outlined plans to invest £400 million in the prison estate, with the aim of building 800 new cells. An additional £30 million will be allocated to purchasing land for the construction of new jails.
Exceptions for Serious Offenders
It is important to note that serious offenders, including rapists and those convicted of other serious sexual offenses, will still be required to serve their entire jail term.
The government's plans also include the potential release of some inmates who are currently serving Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences beyond the length of their original sentence.
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