Royal Commission on Criminal Justice Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Royal Commission on Criminal Justice

Lord Thomas of Gresford Excerpts
Wednesday 3rd June 2020

(4 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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Along with the judiciary, we seek to utilise all the court capacity currently available to us by developing the use of remote hearings. We are also addressing how we can best accommodate jury trials within court accommodation. We will continue to monitor that to see where it can be improved and developed.

Lord Thomas of Gresford Portrait Lord Thomas of Gresford (LD)
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Will the Minister consider recommending to the commission a consideration of the escalating length of sentences, which have probably doubled during my career, and of the impact upon rehabilitation and reoffending?

Lord Keen of Elie Portrait Lord Keen of Elie
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The manifesto commitment was that the royal commission would address prosecution, trial, sentence and parole, and I have no doubt that within that it will give consideration to the length of sentences and the need for rehabilitation.