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Injustice – The IPP Hostages
Friday, November 30, 2012 8:32
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The injustice that is the IPP sentence has passed much of
the public by. There are few column inches dedicated to it, rarely a televised
word, and only a sprinkling of legislators have given a damn. And yet over
5,000 people sit in prison for no reason other than the fact that their avenue to release has
been blocked by the very institutions which put them there in the first place.
the public by. There are few column inches dedicated to it, rarely a televised
word, and only a sprinkling of legislators have given a damn. And yet over
5,000 people sit in prison for no reason other than the fact that their avenue to release has
been blocked by the very institutions which put them there in the first place.
In thrall to the populist media mob the last government
created a new indefinite sentence – Indefinite detention for Public Protection,
the IPP. There was no legal requirement for this new sentence; Judges had the
Discretionary Life Sentence at their disposal to deal with those who they believed posed a future public danger.
created a new indefinite sentence – Indefinite detention for Public Protection,
the IPP. There was no legal requirement for this new sentence; Judges had the
Discretionary Life Sentence at their disposal to deal with those who they believed posed a future public danger.
This was insufficient for the government, in that Judges had
the temerity to use their judgement. With the IPP sentence, judicial discretion
was neutered. A defendant who fitted a set of fixed criteria was obliged to
be sentenced to IPP. Government predicted that only a few hundred people would
be affected. It was a calculation of monumental stupidity and instead thousands
of IPP sentences were handed down.
the temerity to use their judgement. With the IPP sentence, judicial discretion
was neutered. A defendant who fitted a set of fixed criteria was obliged to
be sentenced to IPP. Government predicted that only a few hundred people would
be affected. It was a calculation of monumental stupidity and instead thousands
of IPP sentences were handed down.
The government threw these people into the maws of the
prison service and has watched them been crushed ever since. Those serving IPP
can only be released by the Parole Board. And the Parole Board will only order
release if the prisoner has completed various Offending Behaviour Courses.
prison service and has watched them been crushed ever since. Those serving IPP
can only be released by the Parole Board. And the Parole Board will only order
release if the prisoner has completed various Offending Behaviour Courses.
The government has refused to resource the prison system to
supply sufficient courses for the IPP prisoners, leaving them stranded and
choking up the whole lifer system.
supply sufficient courses for the IPP prisoners, leaving them stranded and
choking up the whole lifer system.
Now, thousands of people are stranded in prison. The
government has abolished the IPP sentence – at last – but offered no solution or
hope to those thousands remaining in prison serving that sentence. This is not only one of the most disgusting populist
measures any government has instituted; it ranks as one of the grossest
injustices.
government has abolished the IPP sentence – at last – but offered no solution or
hope to those thousands remaining in prison serving that sentence. This is not only one of the most disgusting populist
measures any government has instituted; it ranks as one of the grossest
injustices.
Over 5000 people languish in prison, and their
families stew in anguish, awaiting a solution.
families stew in anguish, awaiting a solution.
Ben Gunn is \”one of Britain\’s best known
prisoners…he constantly questions authority and exposes the futility
of the system\” The Times. Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when
he was 14 years old, Ben has since renounced violence and consistently
fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings.
As a result of speaking truth to power, Ben has served far longer than
the recommended 10 years, leading Education Secretary Michael Gove to
argue that Ben \”has been punished excessively for a crime committed as a
child\”, and Lord Ramsbotham to state that \”It is expensive and
unnecessary to keep Ben Gunn in prison\”.
2012-11-30 08:21:01
Source: http://prisonerben.blogspot.com/2012/11/injustice-ipp-hostages.html
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