The Law Is The Law

[cassa333]

The law is the law and it is often made by knowitalls somewhere that is not here but if I made laws one would be that sentances would not always run concurrently but would rather be consectively.

What is the point of having a driving ban for one year to run concurrently with a three year prison sentance? They are in prison so don't need a bloody licience!!

And while I'm on it what is the point of a 40yr prison sentance for murder and 8yrs for robbery to run concurrently!!

[Zacs-Master]

This might enlighten you. If not it will cure any insomnia you may have:
http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/docs/public_guide_totality_for_web.pdf

[ummmm]

Very petty, VHG.

[pixie373]

I agree, cassa. If you break the law, you may as well carry on- you'll only be punished for one crime, anyway.

[Old_Geezer]

"The Law Is The Law" is a truism and as such fairly meaningless.

If sentences ran consecutively then folk would be ridiculously punished an unreasonable amount for minor crimes. And it would mean most in prison have no reason to behave since they aren't going to get out at a reasonable age anyway: with consequential issues of violence and suchlike. Indeed to know one was facing a life in prison for minor crimes holds no break of progressing to more awful crimes, nothing to lose if society has it in for you anyway. Such a system is simply unworkable.

[ummmm]

very well said, OG.

[cassa333]

OG, that's why I said 'not always run concurrently' It wouldn't be appropriate for every case.

Although your comment is a valid point, as Pixie said, if you're only going to actually be punished for one crime why stop? It works both ways. There needs to be an incentive not to do the crime. And why would it be a ridiculously unreasonable punishment for multiple minor crimes? If you have 50 crimes to take into consideration then perhaps you deserve that longer sentance?

What on earth is the point of a driving ban that ends before the custodial sentance?

VHG, Thank you so much for pointing out my inability to spell. It is something I have struggled with all my life and although I may not always be clear in what I am trying to get across I think it is readable!!

[Old_Geezer]

You would need to know you are going to be caught. Otherwise it will have little affect anyway. What you propose is more akin to vengeance than justice.

[FredPuli43]

Yes, but let's an example or two. A burglar is caught having committed twenty burglaries. The totality of his crimes may not justify the maximum sentence. The judge may pick two as more serious and make them consecutive or might make all concurrent but it makes no real difference if the total is right. If he had committed only one or two, the sentence would be less. When the crimes are quite different the judge may make the sentences consecutive. If the man had a gbh and a separate burglary he'd normally get consecutives.

[DrFilth]

> What is the point of having a driving ban for one year to run concurrently with a three year prison sentance? They are in prison so don't need a bloody licience!! <

if he/she breaks out of prison they will not be able to nick a car and drive away becaused they are banned so the police will have a better chance of catching them because the bus has to keep stopping to pick up other people