The blueprint for justice reform includes:
Whole Life Orders for child killers.
Whole Life Orders for 18-21 year olds in cases where the gravity of the crime demands the severest sentence
(such as terrorism). Longer sentences for vandalising/damaging memorials.
Widening the abolition of automatic halfway release for certain serious offenders including those sentenced for four or more years in prison for crimes such as rape and manslaughter.
Preventing automatic halfway release for offenders who become of significant public protection concern. Changing the minimum term starting points for murder committed as a child to ensure that the seriousness is taken into account and there is less of a gap between older children and young adults. Broadcasting/archiving online all Crown Court sentencing remarks. Making it more difficult for people committing repeat offences to use mitigating circumstances to get a sentence below the minimum threshold. Increasing the time those convicted of sexual offences serving a Sentence for Offenders of Particular Concern must spend in prison. Increasing the powers of Probation Officers to supervise offenders on community and suspended sentences without needing to go back to court. Introducing higher sentences for attacks on emergency workers. Doubling the maximum electronic monitoring period to two years.
Increasing the maximum time a judge will be allowed to put an offender under curfew from 16 hours per day to more than 20 hours per day. Cutting tariff reviews for youths sentenced to detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure to just one and only then after serving half the sentence.
Creating five Us-style problem-solving courts where offenders whose offending is linked to substance misuse and other complex needs will get an intense alternative sentence to custody through treatment interventions and links to wider support services. It will not apply to those guilty of domestic abuse.
Halting automatic release of offenders who become radicalised behind bars and pose a danger to the public.