Criminals who skip sentencing will face solitary confinement or lose social visits
Judges in England and Wales will receive new powers to restrict prison privileges for offenders who refuse to attend their own sentencing hearings. These measures include cell confinement and limited social visits, though visits from children remain exempt.
Why it matters
This policy addresses the growing issue of convicted criminals avoiding court appearances, which causes further distress to victims' families.
Image source, Getty Image caption, The new measures given to judges could see offenders confined to cells for up to three weeks
Judges in England and Wales will be given stronger powers to block prison visits and keep offenders in their cells for weeks on end if they refuse to face their victims' families during sentencing.
The tougher sanctions, due to come into effect next year, build on an existing law that orders criminals to attend sentencing or face being fined or jailed for another two years for contempt of court.
The move is the latest bid to push killers to attend court, with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) acknowledging that longer jail time alone is unlikely to deter them if they are already behind bars.
"Criminals should not be able to pick and choose when they face justice," Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell said.
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