05/12/2006

Prisoners no longer entitled to remission

The government has today announced that offenders in Northern Ireland will no longer be entitled to an automatic 50% reduction in their sentences.

Over the past 30-years, prisoner's have been eligible for early release after having only having served half their given sentence, however due to new legislation, offenders will now have to serve the full term.

Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson today revealed that an independent body is to be set up, similar to the current parole board in England and Wales, to judge prisoners' suitability for release.

(EF)

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