Magistrates’ courts in England and Wales could be given new powers to impose longer sentences in order to minimise the backlog in crown courts and prisons, to help strengthen a system that is ‘on the point of collapse.’
Allowing Magistrates to try more serious offences could help reduce the prison population, with a recent study revealing that nearly 17,000 prisoners – almost a fifth of the total – are currently awaiting trial.
At present, Magistrates can only impose custodial sentences between 6- 12 months, with the most serious types of offences being minor robberies or drug offences. The main offences dealt with by the Magistrates are called ‘summary only offences’ – these are the least serious, and they include traffic violations or public disorder.
These proposals come just weeks after a new government plan was announced resulting in 1,700 prisoners being released early. These ideas are subject to mixed opinions, with some saying that a more ‘collaborative and sensible’ approach is needed.
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