context. The answer to that is that sheriffs may require to be more imaginative in their approach to offenders, many of whom struggle with simple aspects of life quite apart from having to deal with the requirements of a CPO. There is also a need to escape from the traditional notion that sentencing involves an ever increasing level of punishment for repeat offenders. That is often an over-reaction to the problem. On the other hand, as some might say, sometimes the communities require a degree of respite from certain individuals. That too is no doubt a valid point. It can, however, be met with an equally valid retort that, if true, the respite ought to be meaningful and not a temporary breather. Long Term Sentences At the other end of the spectrum, there has undoubtedly been an increase in the length of punishment parts in murder cases, which totalled only 31 last year. The curiosity here is that the punishment part, being the minimum period to be spent in custody before an application for parole can be made, was introduced because it was thought, no doubt correctly, that indeterminate custodial sentences would fall foul of human rights considerations. However, unintended consequences followed; influenced by what was then common press reporting of the punishment part as the sentence. However erroneous that may have been, there was pressure on the courts to increase this minimum term; and increase it did.
context. The answer to that is that sheriffs may require to be more imaginative in their approach to offenders, many of whom struggle with simple aspects of life quite apart from having to deal with the requirements of a CPO. There is also a need to escape from the traditional notion that sentencing involves an ever increasing level of punishment for repeat offenders. That is often an over-reaction to the problem. On the other hand, as some might say, sometimes the communities require a degree of respite from certain individuals. That too is no doubt a valid point. It can, however, be met with an equally valid retort that, if true, the respite ought to be meaningful and not a temporary breather. Long Term Sentences At the other end of the spectrum, there has undoubtedly been an increase in the length of punishment parts in murder cases, which totalled only 31 last year. The curiosity here is that the punishment part, being the minimum period to be spent in custody before an application for parole can be made, was introduced because it was thought, no doubt correctly, that indeterminate custodial sentences would fall foul of human rights considerations. However, unintended consequences followed; influenced by what was then common press reporting of the punishment part as the sentence. However erroneous that may have been, there was pressure on the courts to increase this minimum term; and increase it did.