Killers refusing sentencing to face new prison penalties

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 22:44 · Archive

Judges will gain new powers to punish convicted killers who refuse to attend sentencing hearings.

Labour is introducing new measures allowing judges to impose additional penalties on convicted criminals who fail to attend their sentencing hearings. Those who refuse to come to the dock could be confined to their cells for up to three weeks, lose prison privileges such as gym access or televisions for up to 12 weeks, or face a 27-day ban on social visits. Alternatively, prison visits could be restricted to once every four weeks for a period of up to 12 weeks.

The Ministry of Justice described the new measures as 'tough new prison punishments'. Judges will be given discretion to impose shorter periods than those set out in the legislation. Offenders aged 18 to 20 held in young offender institutions will face shorter punishments, such as ten days' confinement to their cell and 21 days' loss of privileges. The measures will not apply to children who wish to visit a parent in jail.

How it is being reported

• Cowardly killers who refuse to attend sentencing face more punishment in jail in Mirror campaign winThe Ministry of Justice has announced killers who refuse to go to sentencing hearings and face their victims' families will face further punishment behind bars, including solitary confinementThe Mirror · 21 Oct, 22:35
• Cowardly killers who refuse to come to dock for sentencing face being locked in cell for three weeks and month-long ban on visits under new powersThe Ministry of Justice described the new measures as 'tough new prison punishments', but the maximum period they can be imposed ranges between 10 days and 12 weeks.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 22:30
• Cowardly killers who refuse to attend sentencing will face new penaltiesKillers who refuse to attend sentence hearings could be confined to their cell for weeks or lose visiting privileges.Sky News · 21 Oct, 17:46

In this story: Labour · Ministry of Justice

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