Prisoners will be caged for weeks on end if they skip sentencing
Criminals who refuse to face their victims' families during sentencing could face solitary confinement for weeks and have their visits blocked in a crackdown on justice. Judges in England and Wales will be granted the harsher powers from next year, building on existing law that mandates criminals must attend sentencing. Currently, if they refuse to come to court, they can be fined or handed an additional two years in jail for contempt of court.
TL;DR
- Judges in England and Wales will gain new powers next year to punish criminals who refuse to attend sentencing.
- Offenders could face up to three weeks in solitary confinement and have visits blocked if they do not attend.
- Visits from prisoners' children will be exempt from the new restrictions.
- The Ministry of Justice aims to ensure criminals face victims and their families during sentencing.
- Existing laws allow for fines or additional jail time for contempt of court if criminals refuse to attend.