Dealing with the looters - a beak speaks

judges are not smooth, but a spell in prison will not solve the problems of young offenders to do

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the streets of London and other English cities seems to come as a surprise to the politicians. They came as a surprise to the judges sitting in juvenile court. I know, because two times a month to take time off to follow the global financial crisis that feels like a judge.

In my experience, dating back almost 20 years, young offenders who come before the peak fall into two broad categories. In turn, minority, and well dressed up with both parents in tow. They are always full-time education, have the prospect of a decent college and careers, and tend to be accused of relatively minor crimes: some drugs, maybe. Parents hate to be in court and he knows the young offender. She felt burning shame for the humiliation that accumulate in the mother and father. Often this is the first time they appeared in court and are afraid.

On the other hand, there are criminals who are behind offers a litany of excuses. Before the case can start, you have to say that removing your hands from his pockets, turn off their cell phones and stop chewing gum. Only rarely, in turn, with both parents, usually the mother, but very often on their own. When the judges retire to read pre-sentence report, you can usually get a good estimate on the content: learning disabilities, excluded from full-time education, a history of physical and sexual abuse, sometimes live in a house depends on the "benefits. / Aa>

judges are encouraged to engage young offenders, but going hard. Teens are trained by defense lawyers to express remorse, but not entirely convincing when he says he feels sorry for his victims. Not much sign of respect for the court, much less afraid of him.

the bench, the judges what you see is a package of impulses of rage, the desire for immediate gratification untempered by guilt and ill-formed only a concept of good and bad. The temptation to hit and throw away the key is strong, and the judges are certainly encouraged to do so in the coming weeks. It is, however, not the work of the courts, and that's a good thing.
• Despite what the politicians think the judges are not common smooth. Formal guidelines sentence means that courts can not make progress. For every crime, there is a starting point for discussions at the table and a range of sentencing options after the judges reviewed the aggravating and mitigating factors, and register the offender and his character. Judges may choose a sentence outside the parameters agreed at the national level, but to explain in court why they are open to. If you want to send someone to jail or someone to do unpaid work, which first need to obtain a report from the probation service or, in the case of a child under 18 years A team of juvenile delinquency.

is absolutely right that this should be the case, since most judges are the fans who rely on experience, common sense and professional back up what we hope, c is the right decision. It is a curious, especially British, in their way, but it works.

judges will not need the encouragement of politicians to get tough with looters. In many cases, the justices will be in the guidelines and decide which is worse - the breakdown of public order - means that their power of condemnation are not enough. The maximum penalty that can deliver for a single offense is six months, reduced to one third if the offender pleads guilty. Only half of a prison sentence is actually served in prison, the rest under the license back to the community. Those caught red with flat screen televisions and designer trainers can expect to find themselves before a judge of the Crown Court, with a more severe penalty as a result.