Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis...dmarsdn8syijsb
Leroy Douglas, 43, has spent almost half his life in prison because he stole a mobile phone.
Back in 2005 when he was addicted to drugs in Cardiff, he robbed a man’s phone and was told he must serve a minimum of two and a half years. But twenty years have passed, and Leroy is still in prison. His sister, Natalie Douglas is campaigning for his release.
She said:
"It was non-violent street robbery. Leroy walked up to the boy and asked if he could use his phone. The boy said yes, and Leroy just walked away with it. There was no violence. After two and a half years they should have looked at his case again, and he should have been let out, but he had an IPP added."
An Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP), which was introduced through the Criminal Justice Act in 2003, could be given for more than 150 crimes – many of which were non serious. It was controversial from its outset.
According to a 2007 Howard League for Penal Reform report, the IPP sentence was ‘ill-conceived’ and ‘ultimately flawed’ and was a major contributor towards prison overcrowding and the serious lack of available resources necessary to help prisoners.
More than 8,700 people in England and Wales were given an IPP sentence – which gave a minimum jail term but no maximum, before the European Convention on Human Rights forced the government to abolish it in 2012, declaring detention beyond the term of sentence unlawful.
But although this meant no new IPP sentences could be given out, those prisoners already sentenced would remain subject to the sentence. So, many who have served years more than their given tariffs are still in jail.
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Seems harsh. However, I don't have a problem with criminals getting tough sentences. They shouldn't have broken the law in the first place.
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alan Lung
Seems harsh. However, I don't have a problem with criminals getting tough sentences. They shouldn't have broken the law in the first place.
So stealing a phone 20yrs?
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jeepster
So stealing a phone 20yrs?
He's on something
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jeepster
So stealing a phone 20yrs?
How do you think the victim felt? A message should be sent out, in order to discourage twats from doing such things.
Why oh why can't people just get jobs and not be criminal scum? It's not difficult if you are brought up correctly. Even if you aren't you can still turn your life around. Don't be a c**t, that's all anyone is asking.
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alan Lung
How do you think the victim felt? A message should be sent out, in order to discourage twats from doing such things.
Why oh why can't people just get jobs and not be criminal scum? It's not difficult if you are brought up correctly. Even if you aren't you can still turn your life around. Don't be a c**t, that's all anyone is asking.
😆 🤣
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alan Lung
How do you think the victim felt? A message should be sent out, in order to discourage twats from doing such things.
Why oh why can't people just get jobs and not be criminal scum? It's not difficult if you are brought up correctly. Even if you aren't you can still turn your life around. Don't be a c**t, that's all anyone is asking.
So your 18 year old son steal someone’s mobile phone and you’d be happy for him to spend 20 years in jail?
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ninian opinian
So your 18 year old son steal someone’s mobile phone and you’d be happy for him to spend 20 years in jail?
Yes
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
“ The sentence has three parts: a mandatory period in prison, based on the seriousness of the offence, known as a tariff, followed by indefinite detention until the Parole Board deems that the person has reduced their risk enough to be safely released – generally by engaging in rehabilitative activities”.
I’d be more interested to know why the parole board doesn’t deem that the person has reduced their risk enough to be safely released.
That’s not to say that I think it’s fair he’s still in prison, but the link is very one sided and doesn’t say anything about what’s happened since
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Alan Lung
Yes
You’re being economical with the truth, aren’t you?
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Sex offenders and single punch killers get lesser jail time
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Well it's nice that we are back to being able to critique the judiciary without being called fascists! That's positive.
This seems like a grotesque miscarriage of justice, and completely inappropriate to be able to extend someones sentence in perpetuity.
That said, there simply must be more to this story? Why on earth would they want to keep him in otherwise?
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JamesWales
Well it's nice that we are back to being able to critique the judiciary without being called fascists! That's positive.
This seems like a grotesque miscarriage of justice, and completely inappropriate to be able to extend someones sentence in perpetuity.
That said, there simply must be more to this story? Why on earth would they want to keep him in otherwise?
There are hundreds of similar stories.
Re: Leroy Douglas - the scandal of IPP sentences
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jon1959
There are hundreds of similar stories.
Don't doubt it, it seems completely wrong to have these kind of sentences and they are rightly banned according to the article.
But why would they keep him in?
