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Judges in England and Wales are set to receive enhanced authority to impose stricter restrictions on prisoners who refuse to appear before victims’ families at sentencing hearings. These new powers, which are expected to be implemented next year, will allow courts to confine offenders to their cells for extended periods and curtail their social interactions within prison. This development builds upon an existing statute that mandates criminals attend sentencing or face penalties such as fines or an additional two years in jail for contempt of court.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledges that simply increasing prison sentences is unlikely to effectively compel inmates to face their victims, especially when they are already incarcerated. Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Criminals should not be able to pick and choose when they face justice.” She further condemned those who refuse to attend sentencing as showing disrespect to victims and their families, adding, “Refusing to turn up to sentencing is an insult to victims and their families, and offenders must face the consequences.”
Under the proposed measures, prisoners who avoid sentencing hearings may be confined to their cells for up to three weeks, have social visits banned for nearly a month, and lose other prison privileges for extended periods. Judges will also have the power to reduce social visits to once every four weeks for up to three months for those who remain defiant. For younger offenders aged 18 to 20, similar restrictions will be applicable but for shorter durations. Importantly, visits from prisoners’ children will not be affected by these sanctions.
Despite the government’s stance, some voices have expressed concern about the potential impact of these rules. Pia Sinha, CEO of the Prison Reform Trust, questioned whether the new restrictions would actually increase attendance at sentencing hearings and warned that such sanctions might unfairly affect the families of prisoners, who are themselves innocent. This policy shift has been urged by the families of several high-profile victims whose killers did not attend sentencing, including Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena, and Jan Mustafa. Other offenders, such as Thomas Cashman, who murdered a nine-year-old girl, and Kyle Clifford, who committed multiple violent crimes, also refused to face their sentences in court. Claire Waxman OBE, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, praised the introduction of tougher rules, describing it as the result of “tireless efforts of victims’ families” to ensure offenders cannot simply avoid justice. She stressed the need for consistent application of these powers so that families receive the accountability they are owed
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