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Public may get say on court sentencing policy
 
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THE public would be given a say in court sentencing policy under plans published by the Scottish Government.

A Scottish Sentencing Council, which would produce guidelines for sentences, would have to publish its proposals and allow time for public comment.

The council would also have to assess the cost and benefit of the guidelines it proposes, and their impact on the prison systems and wider criminal justice system.

Once the guidelines have been finalised, judges in all courts would be under a legal duty to adhere to them.

The council would be chaired by a judge, and would include a sheriff, a Justice of the Peace, nominees from the Crown Office, Association of Chief Police Officers, the Faculty of Advocates and the Law Society of Scotland.

There would also be one representative of a victims' organisation and two non-judicial members.

Legislation to set up the Sentencing Council, which was an SNP manifesto pledge, will be included in the Criminal Justice Bill.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: "We believe there's a strong case for a system of sentencing guidelines to help deliver more consistent and transparent sentencing and a judicially-led Sentencing Council to develop that system."

The proposals are open to consultation until November 21.

Publication date 02/09/08
Posted by: tam-m, southside on 11:50am Tue 2 Sep 08
about time, too many lenient sentences handed out to scum,seems the more crimes they commit the less time they get when caught.
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Posted by: mick, Glasgow on 5:16pm Tue 2 Sep 08
I have long believed that a High Court Jury, after finding someone guilty, should be legally empowered to have a consultation with the Judge to give their view on a sentence. The Judge may have the final say but the Jury view should be officially and publicly noted.
In addition we need to address the problem of offenders reoffending when out on early release.
A person can be released with a 50% reduction in time served for good behaviour as currently practised,which I support within reason, but if they are convicted of committing a crime committed during the early release period and given a new prison sentence,the previous unserved early release 50% time will have to be served before the new sentence kicks in.
Same story again.50% reduction for good behaviour in the 2nd sentence but if there is subsequently a third time sentence under the same circumstances.....no more early release.Full sentence to be served.
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Posted by: trench, possilpark on 9:20pm Tue 2 Sep 08
right on you guys, i would even go as far as to say bring on a lottery of the names of the murderers that need to be taken to the execution chamber, say 3 or 4 a day....that would ease up the overcrowding and would cut down on the expences that has to be used to keep them locked up,fed, disiplined, and also administration personell, personally i would like to put the lot of them on a desert island, far away from civilisation.
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