Posted on 07/10/2008 1:02:10 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Burglars should no longer be sentenced to jail, official advisers have said.
Unpaid work or a curfew would normally be a better way of punishing break-ins and thefts, said a panel that issues guidelines to judges.
The report - part of a consultation document on criminal sentencing - is likely to heighten concerns that Britain's courts are not punishing offenders harshly enough to deter others.
It also says victims of crime could be allowed a say in the way criminals are punished - but only if they call for leniency rather than harsh sentencing.
For the first time, magistrates and judges could be ordered to listen to victims - or bereaved relatives - and be guided by their views on how an offender should best be punished. But, crucially, only messages of for-
Victims could be allowed a say in the way criminals are punished in court – but only if they call for leniency rather than harsh sentencing.
For the first time, magistrates and judges could be ordered to listen to victims – or bereaved relatives – and be guided by their views on how an offender should best be punished.
But, crucially, only messages of forgiveness would be taken into consideration.
The views of those who demanded the harshest penalties would be disregarded.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It seems every day I see something about Britain which makes me think the country has gone stark raving mad. Maybe this is all a joke or something, it can’t possibly be real.
Caning them, on the other hand... ;)
This actually seems like a pretty reasonable, even responsible thing to do, IF it were in the US. After all, there’d be a few less break-ins after a fashion.... (sounds of shotgun racking)
If by unpaid work they mean indentured servitude and transportation to some uncivilized area there might be a point here. Otherwise, it’s idiotic.
Braking into someones house is one of the worst possible crimes. The owners are left emotionally scared and upset. 20 years of hard labor sounds fair. Is is about justice.
I have this image of a cabal with a copy of 1984 and brave new world on their conference room desk trying to figure out how to implement both novels into reality.
A fair amount of the domestic policy news in britain (such as this piece) does not seem to have any rational explanation for existing, has very little support among the british public, but is push anyway. If Power is being used to push this stuff, there is a motive.
Many of my fellow Texans have found a very practical alternative to jailing this scum, the high cost of ammo not withstanding.
Here in Colorado we get to shoot them. So, go ahead and not jail them and we’ll take care of the problem ourselves.
It also says victims of crime could be allowed a say in the way criminals are punished - but only if they call for leniency rather than harsh sentencing.
Nuttier than squirrel poop.
“The views of those who demanded the harshest penalties would be disregarded.” Can’t think of a better illustration of liberalism. Your views count only so long as you agree with them.
“Here in Colorado we get to shoot them. So, go ahead and not jail them and we’ll take care of the problem ourselves.”
You can safely bet this scenario is not the underlying motive behind this move in the UK. (ref: Tony Martin)
Yet another title that I immediately guessed “UK”.
Thank God there is all that water between them and us. It’ll take a little longer before we too succumb to that total idiocy.
ROFL. Yeah right,....until it happens to you. I've lived and been burgled in NYC and LA. The sense of fear, anger and violation of privacy and security is extreme.
You won't sleep well for a very long time afterward and will jump at every noise around the house. Try it sometime and get back to me if you think “it's a less serious offense”.
Personally I think it would be perfectly fine if all burglars were killed on the spot. The burglary rate would drop overnight. Nobody would miss the burglars at all.
There, but for the grace of God, goes the US.
However, in another few years, all bets are off.
Still makes me wipe the sweat off my brow occasionally.
Just tossing out more thoughts on why so much domestic policy in the UK seems oriented on turning the world upside-down, rather than talk about liberals doing stuff for liberal reasons as the explanation for all of this, I am reminded on something orwell wrote in 1984, about the end goals of those in power being more power, plain and simple. The point is that it is not necessary to look for a label to explain an expansion of the State’s power and influence.
So much of this UK news is telling the average, law-abiding subject that they are of no concern and have absolutely no importance or influence on their masters. Up *IS* down, for all practical purposes. Throw in situation criminalization of some possibly not-uncommon conversations by those same law-abiding subjects, huge recorded video surveillance of much of the urban state, potential logging of all car trips taken via those same cameras, and you have a good start on a fairly repressive state.
Don’t lock your doors either
And what are their addresses?
“and you have a good start on a fairly repressive state.”
Let me be sure to add permitting the one immigrant/ethnic group who actually is preaching/practicing overt violence/domestic terrorism to parade about unmolested is a nice touch.
more of the same, i refer readers to this piece of madness
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043595/posts
On the other hand, if a law abiding citizen doesn't... let's say he doesn't sort his recyclables properly, it costs The State money to sort it all out, even though it is probably a very small amount. Still, money is money and the citizen must be made an example of.
This is why one is of great concern to The State and the other is not.
When one is a subject that serves The State and not a citizen, this is what happens.
In a few years when Sharia Law is the law of the land they will be cutting off their hands.
Of course it is a mild offense, compared with upsetting Muslims.
“Many of my fellow Texans have found a very practical alternative to jailing this scum, the high cost of ammo not withstanding.”
One bullet is still cheaper than a year in jail.
Heck, its even cheaper than the Public Defender needed to represent the scumbag.
Rolling on the floor, laughing my a$$ off.
Burglary is a very serious crime and should be punished accordingly by law enforcement or put a stop to at the scene by an armed home owner; preferably the latter.
Even at $1.00 or $2.00 per round, the cost is affordable, especially given the good that is done by such a public spirited expenditure of ammunition.
I think the judge should have to post his home address above the bench for all to see.
I believe that the function of the government is to collect money and power.
The Founders were aware of this, which is why Thomas Jefferson remarked that a rebellion every twenty years or so was a good thing.
We're long overdue...
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