NCJ Number
131358
Date Published
1990
Length
51 pages
Annotation
This White Paper presents the British Government's legislative proposals aimed to respond to the growing problems of crime in the country.
Abstract
The legislative framework described emphasizes the need for severity of punishment to match the seriousness of the crime; it advocates a sharper judicial distinction between violent and nonviolent offenders. Under these proposals, the Crown Court would be able to impose longer sentences for violent and sexual crimes. Use of alternatives to institutionalization, including community service and probation, would be encouraged in cases of property offenders; the maximum penalties for theft and burglary, except for burglaries of private homes, would be reduced. The legislative proposals would require courts to consider a probation service report before imposing a custodial sentence and would encourage wider use of financial penalties, especially proportionate fines and victim restitution. The Government would like offenders to serve the actual amount of prison time specified in their sentences, and courts would have the power to return released prisoners to custody if they were convicted of another imprisonable offense. All prisoners serving sentences longer than one year would be placed on probation upon their release. The courts would have the authority to make parents assume more responsibility for their children's crimes and would have more flexible powers to deal with 16 and 17 year old offenders.