Ministers in England and Wales are set to announce plans giving magistrates the power to impose longer sentences, doubling maximum punishments from six to 12 months. This is intended to alleviate the backlog in crown courts and prison overcrowding.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood highlighted the dire state of the inherited prison system, which is 'on the point of collapse', emphasizing the government's urgent need to address the overwhelming number of prisoners on remand.
The proposal to enhance magistrates' powers aims to tackle serious crimes like assault and drug dealing. However, it has faced criticism, with barristers warning that it might worsen prison overcrowding rather than alleviate it.
Previous attempts to expand magistrates' sentencing power resulted in more individuals serving short sentences, leading to increased prison pressure. Critics express a concern that the effectiveness of the current proposal may mirror past failures.
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