NEW ACT WILL REDUCE DISCREPANCIES IN SENTENCES GIVEN TO CRIMINALS
Monday, May 21, 2007
Labour Party Spokesperson on Justice, Brendan Howlin, has said the Labour Party is determined to address inconsistencies in sentences handed-down for offences such as drug dealing by introducing a new Sentencing Act to provide sentencing guidelines.
Deputy Howlin commented, “A weekend conference heard senior legal academics among others highlight the major discrepancies that exist in sentences given to drug dealers. Specifically, sentences of up to seven or eight years can be given for possession of drugs to the value of anything between €33,000-€16 million.
“Clearly this demonstrates the extent to which the length of sentence handed down is arbitrary and is wholly dependent on the particular judge hearing a case.
“The Labour Party wants to resolve these inconsistencies. In our General Election Manifesto we have proposed two measures to clear-up the confusion surrounding sentencing.
“Firstly we will establish a full-time Court of Criminal Appeal to replace the current part-time body and provide consistency in this important area.
“Second we will introduce a new Sentencing Act that will provide for sentencing guidelines binding on the courts to reduce the disparities between sentences handed down in similar cases. The Act will specify aggravating and mitigating circumstances to be taken into account.
“The Labour Party has proposed a series of other measures to target the drug gangs who peddle such misery on communities throughout the country. These include new witness protection legislation and the provision of more Gardai on the beat in our neighbourhoods.
“But judicial reform is a vital part of ensuring that when criminals are caught that they receive appropriate sentences.”
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