Any story about rape should include a picture of Bill Clinton, similar to the way people put up pics of Catherine Zeta-Jones, or Ann Coulter, or Michelle Malkin.
Posted on 02/10/2008 10:06:34 PM PST by bruinbirdman
The number of convicted rapists who are spared jail has doubled, new figures have revealed, fuelling claims that the criminal justice system is soft on sex offenders.
The latest official statistics show that over three years nearly 90 rapists were given community sentences, introduced by Labour in response to prison overcrowding.
The official data from the Ministry of Justice also shows that when rapists are jailed, the average prison sentence imposed has fallen by more than 10 per cent.
The revelations have angered campaigners, who fear judges are not sending a tough enough message on rape when they set sentences.
In 2004, of the 742 rapists convicted in England and Wales 713 were sent to jail and 29 were spared prison.
Those who avoided jail included 16 who were given community sentences and others who got conditional and absolute discharges.
The following year, 746 of 794 convicted rapists were given immediate custodial sentences. Thirty-two of the others got community sentences.
In 2006, there were 862 rape convictions but only 803 of the offenders were sentenced to jail, meaning 59 remained free.
Of the 59 rapists spared a prison sentence, 40 were given community sentences.
A total of 88 rapists received community penalties between 2004 and 2006.
Offenders given community sentences typically have to "make amends" by doing unpaid manual work on local community projects.
Ministers insisted that community sentences are a tough alternative to jail time, but that claim was undermined last month by a National Audit Office report showing that some offenders are allowed to skip community work simply because they slept in and others are never required to carry out the work because of bureaucratic failure.
The Government's own figures show less than six per cent of cases reported to police lead to a guilty verdict.
Women's campaigners are concerned that the increasing numbers of non-custodial sentences imposed on rapists could deter victims from reporting attacks.
By some estimates, only around 15 per cent of rapes are ever reported to police, suggesting that up to 80,000 rapes are committed each year.
The ministry's data also suggests that rapists' jail terms are becoming shorter, reversing the trend of earlier years.
In 2004, the average length of fixed-term sentences imposed on rapists was 93.9 months.
By 2006, that had fallen to 84.1 months, just over eight years. The figures do not include life sentences.
Julie Morgan, a Labour backbencher and rape campaigner, said the figures were "worrying" and could deter more victims from coming forward.
David Davies, a Conservative member of the Commons home affairs committee, said the figures were "horrendous" and proved that ministers were "soft on crime".
He said: "Anyone who commits rape deserves to go to prison and to stay there for a very long time. There can be no excuses made for rapists.
"These horrifying figures are more proof that Labour makes tough-sounding promises on serious crime but completely fails to take action."
Officials could give no clear explanation for the rise in rapists spared jail, but one theory is that an increase in the number of cases brought to court has led to more convictions for non-violent rapes, particularly of men having sex with girls under the age of 16.
The Ministry of Justice said the Government has made rape laws tougher.
A spokesman said: "A substantial number of convicted rapists have been sentenced under these provisions. The number of offenders convicted of rape who can be detained indefinitely more than tripled between 2004 and 2006.
"The courts decide sentences in individual cases and would have the discretion to impose a community sentence if mitigating factors made that appropriate. But the guidelines are clear that the starting point for offences of rape is a custodial sentence."
Any story about rape should include a picture of Bill Clinton, similar to the way people put up pics of Catherine Zeta-Jones, or Ann Coulter, or Michelle Malkin.
The femi-Nazis seek to make any kind of heterosexual sex a crime. Coming to your Son, or Husband, or Father soon as they can. No evidence required. Just say it’s so and the evil men get locked up.
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