Sentencing - “Broken Penal System” Caused Riots

Written by Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

The "broken penal system" was to blame for the riots that spread across England last month, according to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.The "hardcore" of those charged with rioting or looting were known criminals whose behaviour had not been altered by past punishments, he said in an article in The Guardian. Almost three quarters of those aged over 18 who were charged over the riots had a previous conviction; this meant, the Justice Secretary said, that his plans to reform the penal system and cut reoffending were even more important. Mr Clarke argues that tough community punishments rather than prison would be more effective at reducing reoffending, but Labour claim his plans are merely a moneysaving device. The Government is piloting payment-byresults schemes for private firms who successfully rehabilitate offenders. Mr Clarke outlined planned changes to the penal system – including making prisoners work harder while behind bars – but said there needed to be wider changes to address "the appalling social deficit that the riots have highlighted." To this end, "rocket boosters" need to be put under plans to reform the education and welfare systems, he said. "That is the legacy of a broken penal system - one whose record in preventing reoffending has been straightforwardly dreadful," he wrote. "The riots can be seen in part as an outburst of outrageous behaviour by the criminal classes – individuals and families familiar with the justice system who haven't been changed by their past punishments." Prime Minister David Cameron – who insists the riots were the result of "straightforward criminality", and were not about poverty or protest – has also vowed to get out the "rocket boosters" and apply them to plans to turn around the lives of the UK's 120,000 most troubled families by 2015. Recent figures released by the Ministry of Justice show more than 1,500 people have now appeared in court over the last month's riots. For more information on on criminal, DUI,  and traffic matters please call our office at 305-548-5020.

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