The UK government plans to introduce legislation to Parliament aimed at overriding the new sentencing guidelines for ethnic minority offenders issued by the Sentencing Council. The legislation seeks to remove parts of the guidelines that require judges to consider contextual backgrounds for certain offenders, which Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood describes as creating a 'two-tier' justice system. While the council maintains that its guidelines are intended to correct sentencing disparities, a Ministry of Justice source acknowledged these guidelines will likely be implemented as scheduled.
The Sentencing Council's refusal to reconsider sentencing guidelines for ethnic minorities has prompted the government to introduce legislation that overrides independent recommendations.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood claims the new guidelines create a 'two-tier' justice system, asserting the need for accountability in how pre-sentence reports are applied.
The guidelines are intended to address disparities in sentencing outcomes between white and non-white offenders, suggesting a more contextual approach to individual backgrounds.
Despite the potential legislative change, a Ministry of Justice source indicated that the new guidelines will come into effect as planned, regardless of the government's actions.
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