The Huhnes

[kat1]

What a shock, both now moved to open prisons!!! Just like i said when first convicted. They will be out within weeks now just watch!!

[sandyRoe]

Hardly much of a shock that 'white collar' offenders are held in less secure prisons.

[kat1]

Too true Sandy!

[Electrochem]

Why do they need to be held in closed prisons? They are not a risk to the public and I would be very surprised if they are treated any differently to someone else convicted of the same offence. Do you want them in solitary with a bread and water diet?

[kat1]

It's ok saying they are not a threat, but prisons should NOT be a 'two-tier' system it should be a deterent.

[Orderlimit]

Nice place HMP Leyhill, located in south Cotswolds, but one of those prisons that is harder for inmates to break back in (after absconding to the pub for the night before role call), than to break out.

[FredPuli43]

Every prisoner imprisoned for a like offence ends up in open prison. Why the fuss about this pair? Do you want them in a different category of prison because they are famous now? Or is the objection to open prisons existing?

[jake-the-peg]

Hate to burst your bubble but deterants don't really work because people don't think they're going to get caught.

If they did you wouldn't have America with the death penalty and massive murder rates.

Now you might think they deserve a harsher punishment - that's another question.

But at the root of it this is someone who lied to try to get out of a speeding offence - it's not exactly armed robbery and I rather think if your local bank manager did the same he'd be in an open prison too.

I rather think most people want to see harshly punished because he's a politician and people thought that he thought he was better than them.

There seems a whiff of vindictiveness and pitchforks the moment the case comes up

[andy-hughes]

I think it is appropriate that the Huhnes are transferred to open prisons, but the key in the phrase is not the word 'open' it is the word 'prison'.

Although the regime is far more relaxed, it is still the curtailment of liberty, and being locked up with a load of strangers.

Never underestimate the power of personal freedom removal, it is something we all take for granted sitting at home in front of our PC's - I really don't think it is quite the 'cushy number' a lot of people imagine.

[Orderlimit]

But yeah they probably will be out soon, the Attorney Gen, has rejected calls to appeal the sentence.

[FredPuli43]

"Curtailment of liberty and being locked up with total strangers"? Andy,that sounds exactly like public school.

[VHG]

>>>but prisons should NOT be a 'two-tier' system it should be a deterent.

Prisons are multi-tier with different levels of security depending on the prisoner.

You would next expect mass murderers like Donald Neilsen and the Yorkshire Ripper to be locked up in the same prison with the same security as someone in prison for not paying their council tax for example.

[pdq1]

Instead of prison they should have done community service then at least we could see pictures of them clearing up litter and justice being carried out.

[New Judge]

They will indeed be out in weeks, sandy, wherever they are held. That was never in doubt.

All prisoners sentenced to determinate sentences serve only half their time in custody. Release is automatic and unconditional and the rest of their sentence is served “on licence” in the community.
However, in addition to this prisoners sentenced to between three months and four years are eligible for further early release under the “Home Detention Curfew” (HDC) rules. Those who pose no risk to the public and who have suitable accommodation are eligible for release as follows:

--Sentences of 3 months or more but less then 4 months - after 30 days have been served
--4 months or more but less then 8 months - after one quarter of sentence
--8 months or more, but less than 4 years - after half of sentence minus 60 days

I’m quite sure they meet the criteria for HDC so they will almost certainly be released after serving about eight weeks.

[Orderlimit]

Going off the subject of the original question posted, but I would say deterrents by harsher sentencing does work and are used when a particular type of crime is on the increase. The idea is obviously to send out a strong message that a particular crime will not be tolerated and make the risk to reward ratio of the offence less attractive. We saw this work in the UK on the three strikes and out for domestic household burglary and with lots of other offences such as the cockroaches who dealt controlled drugs outside / near education premises. More recently we have seen Jurors being made an example of and a reduction in reports of false serious sexual offences due to deterrence sentencing.

Back to Huhnes, i don't think it unreasonable to class the 8 month sentence as lenient, this is a serious offence, no matter what the original offence was. There were a few aggravating features in this case not Huhnes position which is consideration in lots of other offences.

[sir.prize]

Hoiw come the Huhnes get the 'comfy' treatment - yet Abu Qatada spends time in more harsh surroundings - he has not yet been proven to have committed a crime?

[Orderlimit]

not forgetting Huhnes position'.

[DaisyNonna]

O what is the point of sentencing to a certain length of time when it is never adhered to? Do their Lordships think we peasants can't count?

[DTCwordfan]

The judge said that he, Chris Huhne, had to serve a minimum of eight weeks in prison and then perhaps an ankle tag and house arrest for the remaining eight if he remains eligible for the early release for good behaviour.

[Prudie]

I think if the Huhne's were peasants they wouldn't have received jail sentences in the first place.

[andy-hughes]

Hi New Judge - what about a prisoner serving eight weeks for not attending a probation meeting?