Alex Chalk has announced a number of new policies designed to ease overcrowding in prisons
Most criminals given jail terms of less than a year should not go to prison, the Justice Secretary has said as he confirmed plans toMr Chalk admitted that jails had become overcrowded but blamed court backlogs dating back to the pandemic, when the Government opted against limiting the scope of jury trials despite delays caused by the need for social distancing.
Mr Chalk said: “The taxpayer should not be forking out for a system which risks further criminalising offenders and trapping them in a merry-go-round of short sentences. Such crimes can include shoplifting, low-level assaults and carrying offensive weapons. However there is a body of research to suggest short sentences of under 12 or six months in prison do little to prevent re-offending.
A new early release scheme will see some criminals currently serving sentences leave jail 18 days earlier than their automatic release date. Mr Chalk insisted these would not include sex offenders, terrorists or serious violent criminals, adding: “This power will only be used for a limited period and only in targeted areas.”
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